What would be the ultimate bike? An FGSS special

Hey flickwg, serious question:

Do the old-school forumengers really respect people more, because they chose to build a bike from frame up, instead of buying an OTP?

That's a thread on it's own.

I think respect comes from people doing their own maintenance and taking an interest in the machines themselves... not whether the bike is an OTP or custom.

i wasn't thinking of respect, i was thinking of enjoyment. Riding something which you have selected the parts for yourself, built yourself, designed by yourself for yourself is one of the most satisfying things you can do with a bike. It may take a long time but it is definitely worth the effort.

with regards to respect, erm well maybe. If someone has made a shit bike from the frame up then I usually wonder why? (often there is a reason) This doesn't really gain respect but they are trying to go it alone, i think it just shows more care and passion for bikes if you do it yourself, if you look at some of the bike people design and put together they are really nice, and impressive to look at and ride, and this shows somethign special - not sure what though. but that's just my opinion

mmm. if you're limiting "respect" to "respect your relationship with cycling" (as opposed to respecting the person)...

would you respect someone who was head to toe in gucci? Or only wore designer labels? Why do we berate hipsters so much if not for leading a formulaic lifestyle?

I respect people's (bike) style when it's an expression of their (cycling) identity, unrestricted by the constraints of what's easy / we're told to (be) like.

pretty hard to do with an OTP methinks, especially as OTPs are usually about compromise (weight, strength, size, cost). That doesn't mean that OTP lovers aren't (probably) good people or that we should throw eggs at them as they cycle past.