bruce gordon chinook
 

Anyone know anything about a "Chinook", by bruce gordon? I recently bought one. I tried calling him, but he wants to charge me 80 bucks to find out anything about it. Well, I was able to get him to at least tell me it was from twenty something years ago. Any info would help. thanks

I feel that I must reply.
Bruce Gordon Cycles has been in business for 30 years this month. In that time I have built about 2000 frames, 572 Lugged Bruce Gordon frames, and 101 Chinook frames. I have all the information including original order forms, specifications, invoices for every frame I have sold. Unfortunately, all this info is in dusty boxes in my loft. It takes at least an hour to locate the info on a particular frame. I work with my hands for a living (which many people don't these days) so any time I spend looking up old info is time I am not making things. Since many of my frames have had more than one owner, I get 3 to 4 calls a week asking for info. I cannot spend 1/2 a day per week looking up specs without getting paid for my time. My shop rate is $80 per hour. People must understand that I only made money when I sold the frame, in the case of a Chinook - that was 24 years ago.
If people respect my work, then I would hope people will also have enough respect my time to realize that it is worth something.
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon Cycles
www.bgcycles.com

Hey Bruce,

You might have golden marketing opportunity here.

Why not hire a summer intern type of kid at minimum wage to go through those boxes to dig out specs from the old bikes and have them (or your web person) put them up on your web site. As you've noted, you've amassed a great body of work and documenting your older work in this way might be an effective way to bolster the image of Bruce Gordon cycles and hopefully drive sales.

Bruce,

Thanks for the response, it's always good to get the answer
right from the source.
Personally, it sounds reasonable to me.

marty

well, thanks all for your thoughts, and bruce thanks for writing too! I am very happy to learn that only 101 of my bicycles were made. I bought mine on ebay. I still had to sell another bike, and put the rest on a credit card.
All I wanted to know was the frame material.
Before calling mr gordon I had read some interviews with him and did expect a little attitude. But I took it with a grain of salt. I just explained I would take 5 bucks a hour if I could make bikes all day in my own shop. and thanked him.
Personally, I freelance, when I do get work I do get more than 5 an hour. I too work with my hands, dont make 80 a hour shop time though. Still I just skid by with bills. 80 is a lot for me since it could feed me for a week or two. I would pay the money if I could, I would also by a custom from him if I could, maybe a rockn road if I could...bla bla blaaaaa
still love the bike and will ride it till it dies, fix it and ride it again

I've got a line on one of these Chinooks, too. Very nice condition. Would $350 for frame, fork and roller headset be a fair price to offer for it? Anybody know what sort of componentry would be in keeping with the frame for building it up the way it was meant to be built?

Since a new BG costs over $1000 and there were only 101 Chinooks made, I'd say you are doing damn well if you get it for $350.

Cowtown, hum, if its a 56 or 58cm I say no, you should offer way less than that right after you PM me with full details of who has it. ;)

Honestly, if you can pick up a hand built lugged frame in very nice condition from just about any accomplished frame builder for $350, and its the type of frame you are looking for, I wouldn't pass it up. As far as the gear, depends on the type of frame (not fimilar with the Chinook, touring, road race, etc?) and your budget. Personally, I'd go with Campagnolo N. Record with bar end shifters most likely.

Thanks for the information.

Cuda, it's a 58cm. If I should pass on the deal, shall I send you the pertinent info?

If Cuda is not interested , please let me know!

PM me the info if you pass. I'm in the process of selling a bike, but if I can get it moved in time I *might* be interested. But I'll be honest, if I were you, I wouldn't pass it up. Might be a long long time before you find another one!

FWIW, I do not work with my hands, but I understand Mr. Gordon's reasonaing. The bottom line is that he ultimately has the same two things to offer that we all have to offer: time and expertise. He has made a determination that his time is worth $80 and hour making his frames and racks and such. Time looking for old files is time he could be spending building the frames, working with buyers, etc., meaning time away form doing stuff that will ultimately pay him $80 per hour.

The short of it is that none of us works for free, and we shouldn't expect Bruce Gordon or the wrench at our favorite LBS or anyone else to work for free, either.

True, but after reading his FBQ interview he hasn't made a friend of me. His work is beautiful but I'd feel more inclined to "advertise" for someone who seemed to have more love of the art and respect for the customer. Certainly worth it for the price, though.

About parts for your Chinook. I got a BLT touring bike from Gordon a few years ago and have had it off-roading. Handled anything except big rocks and drops. Go to his site ( www.bgcycles.com ) and see what is on a BLT. Take it from there.

It's nice to be able to put a firm price on time. It seems that one or the other or both of these parties should relearn the courtesy and respect aspect of relationships. A bunch of people have now looked at this dialogue. It probably balances out the advertisement and opinions of the latest Adventure Cyclist magazine. You might contrast this thread with the one on Sheldon Browns health. Someone pays for his shop time too. the intern idea is pretty good. Do what you do best.

I think I'll go ahead and pick it up. It's in pretty dang nice shape, with just a little paint damage where the front der clamps on. Comes with a Campy seatpost, Stronglight headset, and a Campy frame pump painted to match the frame.

Also comes with a very decent Claud Butler frameset with a Phil Wood BB in it for a song.

I'll get some pics up when I find some pretties to hang on it.

No, you will post photos of immediately! I want to see! :p

There is a listing for a Bruce Gordon – Chinook frame on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170997479769...84.m1438.l2649

I have spoken to the listing person about the problem and he is unwilling to take down the listing.

The problem is the decals. The frame is a Chinook road frame that I made, but, it is NOT a Bruce Gordon frame as the decal says.

Besides the decal is a Mylar sticker that I put on my Powder Coated TIG welded frames is wrong.

I’m not saying that it is a bad frame – just not what it is being represented as.



Regards,

Bruce Gordon

www.bgcycles.com

http://brucegordoncycles.blogspot.com/

seller added the following:

Special Note: Bruce has called to my attention that this frame is his Chinook Branded frame series from about 1983. It should not have been labeled with Bruce Gordon Decals because it is a Chinook that is hand built by him to standard specifications and different lugs and finish specs than his Bruce Gordon Branded frames which are built to custom specifications. This frame should have been labeled with Chinook decals only. Still a great frame but with those differences.

YoKev, are the stickers under a clear coat?
Bruce, are the proper decals available?
I agree that it is a very nicely built frame (that I would love to own.)
Brent

Whoa, keep me out of this. Not my bike.

I was just quoting a clause the seller put in the auction.

What's wrong, are you afraid Bruce will be mean to you? At least you'd get a button :)

Sorry YoKev. My mistake. I thought you were the seller. I should read more carefully.
Brent

Try to resist N+1......

I bought a nice steel road bike from a classified ad in Charlotte, NC in 1994. It had Fat Chance decals. Seller told me he thought it had been made somewhere on the west coast. I have ridden that bike lots and lots since. I had it re-painted and upgraded the components in 2013. This summer (2016) I was riding it from DC to Pittsburgh on the C&O and GAP trails. The chain and rear derailleur encountered a stick, which tore up the dropout. I sent it to Bilenky Cycle Works in Philadelphia for repairs and another paint job. I asked them to help identify the maker if they could. After some time they told me it looked like something Bruce Gordon might have made. I e mailed pictures taken in 2013 to Mr. Gordon. Twenty minutes later he called me. (Mr. Gordon was laid up in his recliner due to an injury, and was bored.) We had a nice chat. He confirmed that what I had was a Chinook, and sold me decals for it. Bilenky applied them and I now have the bike back with a proper provenance. Of course, it looks like new. I have loved this bike since I first got on it, and now I have a better understanding of why that is so.