Originally Posted by
Veloria
Put simply, because they give Waterford their own specs and their own lugs, and they select their own tubing. It's also less expensive, since the bikes are built in batches. Try getting a price quote from Waterford directly for a bike with equivalent specs (angles, clearances, braze-ons) and see what the price difference is.
It looks to me like for $150 more than the mass produced Rivendell frame, I can get a series 22 frame and fork from Waterford in any of a number of different styles, and in in any color I want. I can get them with more or less tire clearance, with geometry and braze-ons suited to any number of different uses. The geometry will be custom fit to my measurements rather than one of 7 sizes Rivendell stocks. I did say I like the Roadeo, but there's nothing magic about it.