thebikechain – thanks. Makes sense.
I've received the first ever 'concrete' details from Stuart last night after emailing him yet again.
Apparently the sliders have been delayed in the factory for some unknown reason. Reading between the lines, it would seem that our assumption about low-volume and being allowed manufacturing time when the factory says so could be true.
There are 6 sliders on order for 'a few weeks' -as he puts it- and its claimed that he's been told they will all be shipped 'sometime this week'.
His email says that the frames (at least the RR853 frames) are shipped to Taiwan an then flown into the UK. The 853 stuff is apparently complete and in Taiwan waiting for collection.
I'd venture that its therefore going to be at least a couple of weeks before the R853 gets here, although Stuart doesn't commit to any delivery times, other than to say the sliders will probably be later than the R853.