Looking for the Un-Serotta

[Marburg]

Hi all,

A friend recently asked me about this and I found myself strangely stumped. He's a mildly ill-proportioned journeyman racer in the Seattle area and he's looking to get himself an inexpensive custom geometry racing frame in Al or Ti. He's got a good grasp on his desired geometry and doesn't need anyone to hold his hand through that, he just wants someone to doublecheck the numbers then cut and weld. A quality frame, to be sure, but not a lifetime or vanity frame, nor the be-all and end-all. Nothing worth shedding a tear over when you pretzel it in a crit.

To me this says "find a bike company which designs in the US and outsources the building overseas."

Surprisingly, I can't think of many (that will actually do custom work).

This is what I've got so far:

Ti: Everti, Sibex
Al: ???

(Oh, and I also suggested Tom Teesdale as an alternative in Al)

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Thanks much

[dauwhe]

Doesn't Habenero do custom TI? www.habcycles.com

[Serotta PETE]

My suggestion would be to have him determine what sizes/angles he needs and then see if an "off the shelf" frame works for him. There are some very good ones out there from the likes of Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, etc,,,, For carbon, I know quite a few folkes who have Giant and love them. For aluminum - Co-Motion


Good hunting PETE

[Ginger]

I don't know if Curtlo does road frames?

[Dr. Doofus]

don't use doug curtis as contract labor

if your pal wants a cheap custom frame, tell him to e-mail or call mike barry in toronto and get a marinoni leggero...it'll be about 800 bucks for the frame/fork with the custom upcharge

[znfdl]

What does your friend consider inexpensive, as inexpensive to one person could be much different than for another individual?

How ill-proportioned is this individual? Just curious, as I will be selling a Spectrum Ti frame (once I get my new Spectrum) in 3 weeks which has a 54cm ST & a 53cm TT

[Andreu]

what the Fritz does this mean?
A

[sockratees]

How about buying a bike off ebay and then customizing the components to fit? Admittedly, it's hard to define "vanity frame," but I would be most grateful for any help with this concept...

[CNY rider]

don't use doug curtis as contract labor

if your pal wants a cheap custom frame, tell him to e-mail or call mike barry in toronto and get a marinoni leggero...it'll be about 800 bucks for the frame/fork with the custom upcharge


He's got quite a backlog before he gets to my Mariposa. I don't want anyone tying him up on the phone with distractions! :fight:

[Marburg]

Hey all, sorry to confuse with my lingo. Here's the word from the man himself, who is apparently too lazy to register, even though I know he's lurking at work:

I'm looking for someone that would build a 61tt/56st compact with about 18cm of headtube. probably 74HTA/73STA. 410mm chainstays. Big tubes. Long torso, short legs, short femurs. my track bike is 60.5/54.5. For it too be attractive, I'd like to pay about $1200 f/f for ti $700 f/f for alu, although neither is likely possible. Else, I'd just go with the crappy fit
of the sponsors bike.

I'm not going to second guess the whole custom thing. I'm sure there are off-the-peg bikes which would work, but that's not the question on the table.

[Marburg]

what the Fritz does this mean?
A

Tall kid, short legs, bad facial hair. Competitive in the race but not good enough that the team (sponsor!) cares what bike he's riding.

Whoops. There goes that brutal honesty.

Admittedly, it's hard to define "vanity frame," but I would be most grateful for any help with this concept...

Sure. The point I was trying to make is this isn't a Waterford/IF/Serotta/Spectrum love-it-the-rest-of-your-life bike that's been optimized to 99% of the ideal. It's a $800 one-color-powder-coat race frame that you can hang in the garage when the first crack appears and not worry about it. In fact, get two, just in case.

[Argos]

That's quite a pricepoint for a Custom Ti bike made with a quality tubeset and with a fork.

[Jeremy]

How about a Dean El Diente 61cm compact frame. All of the dimensions are close to what he wants. Here are the specs:

Seat tube, C to C = 54cm, C to T = 58 cm
Top tube (effective) = 60.3 cm
Head tube = 19.6 cm
Head tube angle = 74
Seat tube angle = 72
Chainstay = 412 mm

Retail cost for the frame is $1450.00. That's a little above his price, but it's close.

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

I found another one that has stock geometry even closer to what he wants. Suggested retail is $1250.00. They also do custom geometry starting at $200.00 more. Check out www.evertibikes.com

Jeremy

[scrooge]

I don't know if Curtlo does road frames?
Yes he does...I'm about to go ride mine now :D :D :D

If your pal wants a cheap frame, he could also check out http://www.wantaframes.com/
I don't know about aluminium or ti, but if he's looking for something he can crash and not worry about replacing, I don't think he's going to find custom for less expensive

[Jeff N.]

I agree with Jeremy. DEAN is the way to go for custom Ti on a budget. You get high quality custom for an acceptable price. Jeff N.

[rphetteplace]

I agree with Jeremy. DEAN is the way to go for custom Ti on a budget. You get high quality custom for an acceptable price. Jeff N.

I third the motion for a DEAN. Other than the ugly *** decals quite pretty bikes. Mine has nice tiny welds.

[manet]

what the Fritz does this mean?
A

http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/528.jpg

[manet]

n'another:

http://wanderingjew.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/jewishgiant4.jpg

[manet]

one more:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1931173052.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[manet]

oar:

http://ap.grolier.com/images/cache/026/pl384.jpg

[manet]

sample:

http://www.diamond-geezer.org.uk/fat.jpg

[manet]

gingers dreamboat:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/dan11gbig.jpg

[Marburg]

Now we're talking.

Anyone got any suggestions on the Al-u-minium side of the fence?

[Needs Help]

The asking price for this was $1275(f/f/Chris King headset):
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=6374&stc=1

But your buddy would cry if he crashed a bike like that, so it's probably better for him to spend $1250 on a bike he can't stand to look at.

[dave thompson]

Chucks Bikes (http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/) is a very good source for inexpensive aluminum frames. Your buddy would have to sort out the sizing but there may be something there that might be suitable.

[CNote]

inexpensive, custom, quality

pick two


(Not that Keith has very much street cred anymore)