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#1
08-24-2016, 01:08 PM
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Holy Trinity of Custom Builders?
The Sachs thread got me thinking.
Watches have their Holy Trinity, namely Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet. Do custom frame builders have a similarly superlative group of three that we can beknight as holy? Among the requirements would be a long history of exemplary work, a commitment to the highest quality craftsmanship and a willingness to progress with the times as technology and our understanding of cycling continues to evolve.
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And we have just one world, But we live in different ones 
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#2
08-24-2016, 01:12 PM
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No, because no matter whom you suggest, some paceliner will come on and cryptically gripe about how terrible their experience was with builder X, never do business with them
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Party on Comrads! -- Lenin, probably
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#7
08-24-2016, 01:24 PM
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Quote:
I interpret that requirement to just mean they are able to evolve with the times, not that they are necessarily at the cutting edge.
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And we have just one world, But we live in different ones
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#8
08-24-2016, 01:31 PM
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While no one would think of him as a custom builder as he doesn't fit the mold I can't help but thinking of Ernesto Colnago at the top of the heap given these criteria.
Arabesque, Master, C-40 and its progeny....
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#9
08-24-2016, 01:40 PM
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I think David Kirk checks all those boxes and has been around for quite some time. His builds are 10/10, customer satisfaction seems to be 10/10 and his bikes continue to progress.
His love for auto sports doesn't hurt either! If you look at more recent builders the list that I would consider expands too much for the scope of this thread. Lot's a excellent builders in the last 10 years. edit - Geez, my Zanconato is over 10 years old now! If 10 years is a good indicator of an established builder then I would put Mike right up there too. You guys think 10 years is a good minimum for a builder to work out the kinks? Last edited by ergott; 08-24-2016 at 01:43 PM.
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#10
08-24-2016, 01:56 PM
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I generally think of lugged or fillet brazed steel when I think of iconic frame builders. I also think of this as sort of a lifetime achievement award of skills learned and great work produced. And customer service has no role in this designation to me. Talent and results make no apologies. Ultimately, for me, it's Sachs, Pegoretti, and Nagasawa.
However, I would order from David Kirk or Tom Kellogg, because a positive interaction is very very important to me and I think they're the gold standard for that, along with their incredible talents.
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#11
08-24-2016, 02:03 PM
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Dinucci, Dinucci, and um, Dinucci.
One day, when I stop beating the snot out of my bikes, I will find away to get one. seriously though, there are always a few that float my boat, all for slightly different reasons.
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#12
08-24-2016, 02:12 PM
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I think it's personal.
Here are my personal trinity. Among them, they can help me cover 90% of terrains in my area at decent speed for the type of road or trails.  2014-05-31 10.39.24 by sevencyclist, on Flickr 2015-12-06 13.25.42 by sevencyclist, on Flickr image by sevencyclist, on Flickr
Last edited by sevencyclist; 08-24-2016 at 02:29 PM.
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#14
08-24-2016, 02:23 PM
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The late Bryan Baylis would be on my list of top builders but he certainly would not meet the third requirement. His designs, materials, and production methods were far from innovative but his workmanship and finished product was top notch. He also was one of the top frame painters in the country.
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#15
08-24-2016, 02:28 PM
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Great rides....slightly OT, but friend of mine pointed out something wrong with that street sign that I never noticed in many many years of riding Tunitas...looks like it's been fixed. Is that a recent picture?
Quote:
Last edited by foo_fighter; 08-24-2016 at 02:32 PM.
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