USA Framebuilding Trip/Blog

That's a perfectly good question. The answer is plain and depressing; no British frame builders could be bothered to reply to me and they're not generally on the bikelist.org framebuilders forum where I initially made connections with several builders, whereas the US builders are on the whole more organised, friendly, open and inviting, not to mention all the free advice they have given me.

US frame builders also have the benefit of more developed supporting industries, such as lug, tubing, flux, jig & fixture manufacturers. In the USA frame builders have traditionally always used more equipment than their British counterparts, so there is much more to see, learn, photograph and ask questions about.

The WCMT only funds overseas study/travel. I applied, made my case and won the travelling fellowship.

,L ol I think you basically summed up most british industry there!