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INTRODUCTION TO CYCLE DESIGN GROUP
The modern bicycle frame, the concept thereof being well over a century old is now so diversified in it's form that the common term framebuilder or frame maker has been separated from the common word bicycle as bicycles are marketed throughout the world and the portion produced by "framebuilders" now only occupies a "niche"

Most bicycles available and utilized by the general public are made by factory complexes and production companies using a team of "operators" 
Even though many of these operators are still craftsman in their own right, the job they do is stationed within the assembly procedure unlike the independent builder that has the entire responsibility from beginning to completion

The individual framebuilder has to be capable of touching all the same bases as the entire factory with all of its procurement assets and their trained, skilled and semi skilled operators and equipment and office staffs and marketing..

Fad, fashion and marketing have become a blank check to the production by bicycle factories to get proprietary items to produce cutting edge models to blitz the buying public with
This History proven method of propriety not only works but allows the competing factory to only need to achieve a level of excellence based on marketing parameters and not from pure development to enhance the quality and the performance of the product.
In recent years, perhaps more like decades, the procession has been in "convoy mode" preventing even proprietary advances from reaching the general public while at the same time keeping the cutting edge proprietary materials, tubing models, even groupos from becoming available to the custom frame shops.

One purpose of membership to this selective group is to provide first a voice from the custom industry to the providers . 
Second facet is buying power.  I will go into that later. Another facet is and more important is the shear strength of mass advertising power allowing even the smallest builder to be visible in the midst of the monster.

Cycle Design Group will represent builders in crucial issues in addition to buying and advertising and will generate a consortium  for obtaining insurance, documentation and accreditation, certification and will be entirely a peer group.
No generals, no sergeants, no privates!  Like mighty King Arthur of old, and in the tradition of honor, Cycle Design Group will take their place at the round table and using the combined talents of the individual members, will generate policies both interim and permanent to create a permanent voice  to the cycling community , to the general public, to the cycling federations and the all important hallmark of credibility when dealing with suppliers.
Previous co-ops and associations have spring up over the decades, however having one thing in common, the political structures led to their own self demise.
It is the intention of the founders of the Cycle Design Group to remove all traces of rank or status and provide a membership organization for the membership and in no way have draconian elements or political aspirations affect the good of the group.

How can the group be effective?
The much hashed subject of certification?  Certification by two of more of the members of a builders workmanship is not only valid but may be used as leverage while attempting to purchase insurance.
In the work world of today, there is hardly a venue where some valid certification is not needed even just to work in a factory station.  I personally equate very closely the skill needed to produce a really first rate bicycle frame is more- not less complex than that needed to build an airframe in the traditional tubing manor.
Many members of the CDG already are involved in producing construction goods and providing select tooling exclusive to frame building. ( Update 2009 )
By providing an open and not annoying dialog between these individuals so that an abundance of fair trading can take place , the CDG members can help support one another.
This same openness  will allow a better intelligence exchange and will benefit all.
As many builders are pure specialists and as we share each other's experiences and specialties, reference from one builder to another that is more content building for a customer's needs allows for better service to the customer and relieves the burden of building out of your specialty--  every body wins.
In the many years that custom frame building has been presented to the general public, the subject of specialty in a particular provincial venue  has obscured the very same diversity of products available to the buyer that the factory has played to.
Example: builder A is the only builder in the area but prefers only to build lug-less bicycles.  Builder B is in area nearby but only prefers to build aluminum bicycles.  The impact of the buyer being offered more than the provincial option and a direct connection to builder C who builds a bicycle that exactly fits their desire who in turn refers his aluminum customers back to Builder B.  Truth and honor always creates a plus, creates a happy customer and builder A and B won't make that sale but their sales base has just broadened to include A, B and C providing long term stability.
CDG will continuously promote our concept of buying from the individual frame builder.  Advertising will be continuously  arranged and financed by CDG. 
CDG will always remain an independent, non-profit, non-partisan advocacy for framebuilders.
CDG will be financed entirely by "non-mandatory" membership fees and by donations.
Here is how that part works.  If  a venue that has potential has available advertising, CDG will contract to get advertising in that venue.
Funding for advertising will only be limited by the volume of membership fees and donations- so the more members we have, the more we can reach out.
Having a CDG logo and link on your personal web site will allow visitors to your web site to view Showcase information about you and the other members written by you and with your approval.
There will be web space provided which will provide a gateway for potential customers to match their needs to a builder of their choice.
All new members will be assumed to be capable and no other information but their preference in building is needed to join.
Now here is how that works.  As I wrote earlier, we need to do this without rank or status and if someone wishes to be certified by other members, that certification will not change the rank or status of membership.  It is only a certification to show to the public.  I have no qualms at all about testifying to the buying public on behalf of dozens of builders that I know personally.

However the addition of a certification doesn't change how a person is going to be treated within this peer group.
There are members that by reputation and experience,  that the addition of a certification would be moot.
However in the past year alone the community has expanded like never before and it would be a benefit to many of these newer builders to be able to say that the CDG has determined that they are totally qualified.

It is encouraged by this charter to advance trading amongst yourselves.  Take advantage of this as a media to contact members that may be off racing somewhere and to relieve the frustration of emailing them every day only to find out that they were gone.  If a member is in trouble,  for example, one of the members recently experienced a burglary and lost most of his Oxy/acetylene tools-- the word went out and temporary tools were provided.
Since this is a global market now, international members reach customer bases heretofore unknown to builders within their own sales base.
Specialty items such as jigging, tools, new/old stock (NOS) items are out there.  For example, I personally know where 40 sets of Reynolds 531 special touring (the ones with the long chain stays) are sitting and collecting dust.  ( Gone )
Now is the time to join up and proudly display the CDG logo on your web pages and grow with us.
Regular membership is the only category of membership.  Everything else is a donation.  As I said, status here must be kept to a minimum. Regular membership is $35.00 US dollars per year (View Certificate)
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Regular membership is $35.00 US dollars per year