Framebuilders - Steel bikes

Can anyone point me in the direction of an inexpensive steel bike builder? I have an older specialized allez and I think it is amazing. I'm a bigger guy at 215 and don't feel safe on anything else, and to me nothing looks classier. I don't like brand names and like obscure stuff and off the beaten path. Any info is appreciated.

Where are you based? Its always best to try and work locally if you can as it makes the process a lot more fun.

Also what kind of bike are you looking for? An out and out road bike, tourer, all-rounder etc.

Bernie Mikkelsen (CA), Don Walker (Texas), Rich Adams (PA), Zinn Cycles (who specialise on bikes for big people), Desalvo etc the list will go on and on.

For a 'budget' frame, I think Bernie and Rich are both awesome, professional and very competitvely priced builders who really make wonderful minimal (well that parts up to you) frames.

{If you were in London, UK I'd send you to Witcomb Cycles in Deptford, another great steel framebuilder. Very nice frames for the money.**

http://www.tetcycles.com/index.html

Teesdale has been around for a long time and has a good reputation. Get one of his Reynolds 525 frames - it's cheaper and the tubes are thicker so it will be stiffer which is best for a larger rider like yourself.

Check out Doug Curtis; Curtlo Bikes

http://www.curtlo.com/

Great guy and beautiful bkes.

Have a look at www.southwestframeworks.com.

I have two of David's bikes. He does his own painting and his bikes are spectacular.

NewRider06,

If the already mentioned bikes are out of your price range you might look into Soma.

There are none in my area but several shop owners seem to think they make a nice frame, and I am considering building one.

If you go to www.roadbikereview.com and look for Soma you will find a lot of comments, and virtually all are positive.

Good luck with your search.

Personally I don't think there's anything worth having that's 'cheap, obscure and off-the-beaten-path'. Things that are obscure and exclusive are usually expensive, and if they aren't, it usually means they're rubbish.

Personally I don't think there's anything worth having that's 'cheap, obscure and off-the-beaten-path'. Things that are obscure and exclusive are usually expensive, and if they aren't, it usually means they're rubbish.

I agree, although the OP did say "inexpensive", not "cheap".

Inexpensive is a relative term; there are builders who will provide a nice custom frame for around $1,000 or you can look at Colnagos, etc.

I mentioned Curtlo. I've never seen anyone else on one yet it is one of the nicest bikes I have ever ridden, built or even seen.

Sometimes obscure is just a lack of exposure.

waterford makes a cheaper frame called Gunner.

you can check out Mike Flanigan and Alternative Needs Transportation (http://www.antbikemike.com/bikes.html). Mike was one of the co-founders of Independent Fabrications and designed both their Steel Club Racer (the IF audax/randoneering bike) and the Independence (the IF loaded tourer). He parted ways with IF when they started pursuing a higher-end market, and he wanted to build sturdy, utilitarian rides. His bikes are pretty no-frills, (ie. he doesn't do lugwork, no super-slick paint jobs, etc.) but they are good rides made to run forever; and he's pretty excellent about talking to people to see what they want and what's right for them.

He's also built some awesome cargo bikes (http://www.antbikemike.com/flom.html) for local delivery restaurants, as well as a wooden track bike (http://www.antbikemike.com/woodbike.html) -- just because he can.

I'm having him buld a Club Racer for me in a month or so. And he's been a pleasure to work with so far. His frame prices are also cheaper than the local competition (Seven, IF, etc.)

waterford makes a cheaper frame called Gunner.

...and they're nice; I've seen them in my LBS.

Good call.

Actually,
it's Gunnar, and I have one. Newrider... there are dozens of builders.
Most are very good. But cheap they are not.
This is my Gunnar
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/sport.php

How much do you want to spend on a frame? $500, $1K, $1.5K, or higher?
At $500 I suggest the Surly Pacer
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly-pacer.html

There are many choices at $1K. Go over $1k and there are even more choices.
I am fond of Waterford, their bikes are semi-custom, but it's hard to go wrong.

for custom, try jonny coast in brooklyn. dude doesn't charge as much as he should last i checked. get one from him before he gets wise and raises his price to where it should be!:eek: :) :D :) :eek: :D

you can check out Mike Flanigan and Alternative Needs Transportation (http://www.antbikemike.com/bikes.html). Mike was one of the co-founders of Independent Fabrications and designed both their Steel Club Racer (the IF audax/randoneering bike) and the Independence (the IF loaded tourer). He parted ways with IF when they started pursuing a higher-end market, and he wanted to build sturdy, utilitarian rides. His bikes are pretty no-frills, (ie. he doesn't do lugwork, no super-slick paint jobs, etc.) but they are good rides made to run forever; and he's pretty excellent about talking to people to see what they want and what's right for them.

He's also built some awesome cargo bikes (http://www.antbikemike.com/flom.html) for local delivery restaurants, as well as a wooden track bike (http://www.antbikemike.com/woodbike.html) -- just because he can.

I'm having him buld a Club Racer for me in a month or so. And he's been a pleasure to work with so far. His frame prices are also cheaper than the local competition (Seven, IF, etc.)


Cool links. Check out Calfee's bamboo frame:

http://www.calfeedesign.com/bamboo.htm

I recently have been had the opourtunity <sp> to have ordered a custom steel bike.

"Inexpensive"? No.

Worth the wait time? - jury's out on this one.

I'm sure I'll enjoy the heck out of the new bike but the wait is messing with me.

Is 12 plus weeks the norm for a custom frame?

Good luck newrider06 on your mission.

Spokenword. Thanks for your Ant/ IF history tidbit.

~jg

{If you were in London, UK I'd send you to Witcomb Cycles in Deptford, another great steel framebuilder. Very nice frames for the money.**

I've not heard of Witcomb, how do they compare to Mercian on a price/quality basis?

I'd say 8-12 weeks is reasonably normal for a custom builder. We try to sneek everything out within 8 weeks, but sometimes things go haywire, especially if you're relying on subcontractors. A good example is Spectrum Powder Works who work on about a three week leadtime, or more, depending on how busy they are.

Custom frames are not for the impatient, but then as your momma said, the good things are worth waiting for.

Eight to twelve weeks is a very short time to wait for something to be custom built for you. My have we gotten impatient!!

A custom is worth every second of the wait. You end up with a final product you can be proud of. Go custom. No reason to buy off the shelf.

Rock lobster has some very reasonable prices and the guy's been building for years.

steel is great, for me it is the only material bikes should be made of, that being said, check out www.circleacycles.com. resonable pricing, awesome bikes.

I just got this gunnar roadie frame, and I have to say.. I love it.


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/mcoine/IMG_0216.jpg