ISO Thoughts of Custom Steel Builder Around Today And In The Early 1990s

[Ernesto]

Curt Goodrich

[roguedog]

Bill Holland? Not sure why he doesn't get more press

Doriano De Rosa aka Bixxis bikes

[LouDeeter]

Didn't Bill Holland switch to pretty much all titanium? Didn't know he was still doing lugged steel.

[Doug Fattic]

I’m still building and painting frames although almost all my time is spent teaching others in classes how to make and paint frames. I was a high school teacher before I went into building full time. I went to England in 1975 to learn those crafts. My friend Jeff Bock in Iowa started building and painting in 1976. Now that he has retired from high school teaching he is a full time builder. Another colleague and friend Rich Gangl in Golden Colorado has been building and painting since the 80’s. He drove with me to UBI in 1992 to learn how to build titanium frames from Gary Helfrich. He has the broadest skill set of any builder that I know being able to tig ti and aluminum as well as doing lugged steel. He is a painter too. His workshop is amazing.

[pdonk]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

The one that was for sale in Toronto recently? Like a 57cm or so? Dang, that one is so stinkin' nice.. We need pics of it built. I've lusted after DeKerf's since the early 90s when Bike Magazine did a spread on custom builders........in fact, that's where my itch first developed for all this madness.

I really wanted that dekerf as well, but the new SV and the colour prevented it.

If I ever have to part with my 21 inch dekerf mtb, you'll be first on the list. Purchased in 1996 or so, only a few changes since then, including a recently custom fillet brazed stem by Paul Brodie.

[Lanternrouge]

Originally Posted by Ernesto

Curt Goodrich

Started building in 1995, which was after I was out of high school. In 1995, the bike I lusted after was Serotta Ti.

[Lanternrouge]

Originally Posted by roguedog

Bill Holland? Not sure why he doesn't get more press

Doriano De Rosa aka Bixxis bikes

Holland only does carbon and Ti now, though his carbon bikes are probably the closest one can get to an updated version of an Ottrott.

I looked at the Bixxis website and it looks like he's a TIG builder.

[Lanternrouge]

Originally Posted by Doug Fattic

I’m still building and painting frames although almost all my time is spent teaching others in classes how to make and paint frames. I was a high school teacher before I went into building full time. I went to England in 1975 to learn those crafts. My friend Jeff Bock in Iowa started building and painting in 1976. Now that he has retired from high school teaching he is a full time builder. Another colleague and friend Rich Gangl in Golden Colorado has been building and painting since the 80’s. He drove with me to UBI in 1992 to learn how to build titanium frames from Gary Helfrich. He has the broadest skill set of any builder that I know being able to tig ti and aluminum as well as doing lugged steel. He is a painter too. His workshop is amazing.

I recognize the Gangl name. I'll have to check out the options later, even though this project is probably at least a year out of not more. I remember Gary's email in the early 1990s was lapdog@crl.com. I don't know why I remember that. I went to UBI in 1990 (I think).

[arimajol]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

you cant anymore, i was just rubbing it in

The lugged SL model is back on the website. Unclear if the man himself is still building or not. I got one of those lugged frames back in 2015, and remember seeing your photos when I was in the ordering process. You never post pics of it anymore! Does it just not get the ride time or what?

[merckxman]

Yes, that''s the one. Has fillet brazed head tube and BB, also the segmented fork and seat stays. Should be ready next month, I was looking for something different and was curious about how it might ride differently from a traditonal steel bike.

Originally Posted by Clean39T

The one that was for sale in Toronto recently? Like a 57cm or so? Dang, that one is so stinkin' nice.. We need pics of it built. I've lusted after DeKerf's since the early 90s when Bike Magazine did a spread on custom builders........in fact, that's where my itch first developed for all this madness.

[roguedog]

Ah.. you're right. Forgot about the steel part of your question and focused on the 90's part 'nother cup of coffee please. Carry on.

Originally Posted by Lanternrouge

Holland only does carbon and Ti now, though his carbon bikes are probably the closest one can get to an updated version of an Ottrott.

I looked at the Bixxis website and it looks like he's a TIG builder.

[WNC rider]

Bill Stevenson? http://stevensoncustombikes.com/
Saw one of his frames at a local shop, really nice.

[Mark McM]

Don't forget Waterford

[Clean39T]

A number of these heads of state have been interviewed on RKP's The Pull: worth a listen for sure...

https://redkiteprayer.com/category/sound/

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[FlashUNC]

Dave Kirk or Waterford would be my top choices these days.

If you find a Della Santa that fits, I'd suggest scooping it up.