Touring - Custom Touring Bike

I'm seriously thinking about getting a custom steel touring bike built for me. I'm a really big guy and I ride a fair bit 4-5000 kms a year. Is this good idea, and is it worth the extra money?

I would say that a pretty personal question. If you're big enough that you can't find a frame that fits you, then, by all means, get a custom. I would love to have a custom just for the idea that it was built specifically for me. I have a custom trumpet that will always seem like it plays better than anything else I have just because it was made just for me.

Saying you're a big guy doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm 6'4" and weigh about 200 lbs much of the time. I ride a smaller than biggest production size bike.

I've ridden with a couple of guys who are 6'6" and closer to 250 who also ride stock frames.

But none of that means much.

You could probably get a frame to fit you without resorting to a custom frame but if you've ridden much and know what you're looking for then by all means consider a custom frame.

Waterford - the best.
Rivendell - almost the best.
Bruce Gordon - VERY good touring bikes but he is opinionated as hell and if you don't agree with him he's very difficult to deal with.
Ed Litton - A very good frame builder with tons of experience but he only makes a limited number of frames each year and you have to hit him at just the right time.
Bob Jackson or Mercian are wonderful touring bike makers but if you are really big you probably don't want a standard size tubing bike which I believe is all they presently make.

There are others of course - Leonard Zinn is an expert large frame builder since he's REALLY TALL himself. Jobst Brandt has toured extensively on a bike with standard tubing and he's something like 6'7" or so tall though he's pretty thin. Still, he climbs like a bandit and decends like a skydiver with a failed chute without problems.

Thanks for the information. I'm not only large 6'5" and 300 pounds but I have very short legs and a long upper body (think Gorrilla). The problem I seem to have is that I can't buy a stock steel bike as they flex like noodles.

Thanks for the information. I'm not only large 6'5" and 300 pounds but I have very short legs and a long upper body (think Gorrilla). The problem I seem to have is that I can't buy a stock steel bike as they flex like noodles.

I'm really happy with my Riv, even though I could just as easily ride a lot of stock frames. There's something really nice about knowing that the bike was built for what you want to do and for your tastes and needs. If you ride a lot and have trouble getting a bike to fit, then a custom frame with tubing and geometry to suit your needs could be an excellent investment.

ChecK out Co-Motion as they have designed a frame for heavy dudes.

check out the Rivendell sight about some of the top-tube/middle tube bikes they have built you guys like you

Hoss10: With your body, I'd say go for the custom-built if you can afford it.

There are many custom frame builders and most have some experience building touring bikes. You might want to check to see if you've got a good builder in your area.

Bob Brown is another good name who does a lot of touring builds. And if you want a Rivendell without the middle man, you can always go directly to Curt Goodrich who also builds under his own name now.

You might also check with don walker. He's a frequent poster over in the fixed gear forum. He specializes in track bikes but is knowledgable about all types of bikes. He's not a lightweight himself, so he knows how to build a strong frame.

The ultimate custom touring bike is probably Sakkit (http://www.coinet.com/~beckman/bikeframes.html), they are useful for inspiration if you cant handle the waiting list or cost.
Henry James have a list (http://www.henryjames.com/blocator.html)of custom builders.

Zinn is definately worth checking out for big bikes. He factors in large crank length if you want, something many large-frame designers omit.

Check out Co-Motion, they're now making a frame especially for big guys like you. I got a custom Co-Motion this spring, and after almost 5K miles, I can tell you it's worth every penny of the extra cost to have a bike that actually fits.

Hi,
my 2 cents is to get a Waterford. It won't be bothered by your weight.

Great information guys. I'm up in the Great White North and there a few custom builders up here. Hugh Black at True North does really nice work and has built for people bigger then me. www.truenorthcycles.com I guess I'll bite the bullet and order one. Of course now I will have many more questions: such as 700 vs. 26 inch wheels, drops or flat bars etc.

Of course now I will have many more questions: such as 700 vs. 26 inch wheels, drops or flat bars etc.

Answers: 26 inch wheels (or maybe not since you're tall) & drop bars (for sure).

I find it amusing that so many tourers are looking to go to 26" wheels while so many MTB riders are looking to go to 700C wheels.

There really is no questions at all about wheel sizes. For a big guy you REALLY have only 700c. With 26" wheels you have a very poor choice of tire sizes and types unless you're riding knobbies. With 700c you can get tires anywhere and in just about any configuration though I can say that you'd want to start out with Avocet Duro Plus which are 32 mm wide and can still be inflated to 90 psi.

There really is no questions at all about wheel sizes. For a big guy you REALLY have only 700c. With 26" wheels you have a very poor choice of tire sizes and types unless you're riding knobbies. With 700c you can get tires anywhere and in just about any configuration though I can say that you'd want to start out with Avocet Duro Plus which are 32 mm wide and can still be inflated to 90 psi.

26 vs 700c is still a moot point. In touring sizes, the difference in efficiency is hardly measurable.
26" is the modern choice for expedition tourists. You get more air for comfort, closer spokes for strength and worldwide availability of tyres (even if they are knobbly). Modern expedition tyres such as Schwalbe Marathon XR come in both sizes.
700c touring size tyres are only available in "bike country" where hybrid style bikes are ridden.

If fast touring is your thing, then 700c is probably more suitable.

I'm up in the Great White North and there a few custom builders up here. Hugh Black at True North does really nice work and has built for people bigger then me. www.truenorthcycles.com I guess I'll bite the bullet and order one.


I have a True North touring bike, and it's great. Hugh does excellent work, and he provides excellent follow-up service.

I am 200 lb and the wife is 250 lb. Our tandem was almost custom built as we were car-free back then and needed a machine we could use for shopping and hauling loaded trailers. Counterpoint made our semi-recumbent tandem with slightly larger diameter steel tubing and thicker welds then usual. We still use it 20 years later and riders at our annual club picnic were admiring how solidly it was built. The single 20"x2" front wheel takes all of my wifes' weight but gets a little squirmy. I run the pressure for that tire 10-20 PSI over the design pressure. Bilenky is known for custom bikes. Bruce Gordon does custom work and I know from personal experience he is not as curmudgeonly as others make him out to be. Be prepared to pay in the loose ball park of 3000 - 5000 for a great custom bike. A top flight pro fitting like the one from Dr. Andy Pruitt in Colorado includes measurements for bike fitting. Many top bike shops have special fitting frames that can be adjusted for some extreme body shapes.

I am 200 lb and the wife is 250 lb. Our tandem was almost custom built as we were car-free back then and needed a machine we could use for shopping and hauling loaded trailers. Counterpoint made our semi-recumbent tandem with slightly larger diameter steel tubing and thicker welds then usual.

Hey Hoss, I'm a fellow hoss. I'm 6'2" ~280. I've also got disproportionally short legs (30" inseam). When I first started biking, I got a trek 520 in the closest thing to my size. I found it worked for me test riding and while I was building up my conditioning, but after an hour I found myself continually fidgetting trying to get it correctly (a lot of moving my big butt back and forth on the seat.)

I had IF build me a Club Racer with thicker wall steel tubing. All I can say is, WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. The fit allows me to ride for hours in (relative) comfort. I took it on an 800 mile tour through England with me + 40 extra pounds in baggage. It's a a rock solid bike which serves for touring, commuting, and you can strip off the touring gear to make it surprisingly light considering the thicker tubing. I'm sold on custom built bikes. Mine cost 3x more, but as I find myself riding it 5x more often, it's payed for itself.

I'm a hoss at 230 and about 6'1" and I have slightly short legs I could ride about 54-6 legs and 58 torso. I can get by off the rack but I am going custom to deal with that issue and all the special features I want. I'm doing the frame myself, so I have had to school on what is involved in the beefier frames and the changes aren't all that extreme sorta MTB main triangle and light tandem rear triangle. Not a bad project actually for a cheap Sakkit. At the moment I am building 2 frames one will be tandem weight and the other closer to an LHT, then I will see how they work.

I don't know about getting a Sakkit frame, but the literature is superb for identifying all the strength issues, and component issues. Beyond that Sakkits are integrated as to frame rack and paniers, which is nice but the racks are about what a good custom frame costs, justifiably, so i don't see many people with that stuff.

I'm going with the 26" wheels. I don't get the 29" fad yet, but for the time being it seems irrelevant to tourists until the supply gets out there.

+1 on the Co-Motion, they will set you up with a great touring machine. http://www.co-motion.com/

There really is no questions at all about wheel sizes. For a big guy you REALLY have only 700c. With 26" wheels you have a very poor choice of tire sizes and types unless you're riding knobbies. With 700c you can get tires anywhere and in just about any configuration though I can say that you'd want to start out with Avocet Duro Plus which are 32 mm wide and can still be inflated to 90 psi.

I don't want to hijack this thread into yet another wheel size debate, but the choice of road tires for 26" could hardly be described as "poor." It is in fact quite large and diverse. For someone as large as the OP, 700C wheels make geometric sense, and enough heavy-duty rims are made in 700C these days that better strength in the smaller wheels isn't really an issue, but tire choice and availability is the last reason to stay away from 26 inch wheels for touring.

"but tire choice and availability is the last reason to stay away from 26 inch wheels for touring."

I agree, since the big guy probably wants 32 and up anyway, and for that you have a good series of stock choices. When you hit the road you have a better chance of getting replacement tires with 26" though a lower chance of getting good touring tires in that size. However 700c touring tires are not all that available either. I couldn't find any when my Schwalbe blew a casing.

The only supply problem with 26" wheels is if you have a bike designed only to accept very narrow tires. 26" x 1" are great for races, but not so great for touring. However, if the bike accepts 26" x 1.9 or 2", then you won't be stuck without tires.

As for 26" tires suitable for touring, there is not an over-abundance, but there is a good selection in the 26 x 1.2 to 1.5" slicks and 26 x 1.7 to 1.9" with slight tread.

26 vs 700c is still a moot point. In touring sizes, the difference in efficiency is hardly measurable.
Who cares about efficiency? How would you like to have to wait for a UPS shipment of tires before you could leave Dunning, UT? While there are some decent 26" slicks they're hard to come by.


26" is the modern choice for expedition tourists. You get more air for comfort, closer spokes for strength and worldwide availability of tyres (even if they are knobbly). Modern expedition tyres such as Schwalbe Marathon XR come in both sizes.
700c touring size tyres are only available in "bike country" where hybrid style bikes are ridden.

If fast touring is your thing, then 700c is probably more suitable.
By all means try riding a 70-90 mile day with knobbies on.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.


nothing to do with this thread, but fyi, the full line

i'd rather have a free bottle in front of me than a prefrontal lobotomy.

:rolleyes:

Something to think about: start with an off-the-shelf Trek 520 (although it no longer is available in 25-1/2" as it was in the past, I'm pretty sure that a 25" frame will accommodate whatever your desired riding posture will be). However, there's still some room for customization. How about a custom built touring wheelset with sealed bearing hubs?

If I was in the OP's situation and had the money, I'd get a custom Vanilla http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/touring/index.html

Saying you're a big guy doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm 6'4" and weigh about 200 lbs much of the time. I ride a smaller than biggest production size bike.

I've ridden with a couple of guys who are 6'6" and closer to 250 who also ride stock frames.

But none of that means much.

You could probably get a frame to fit you without resorting to a custom frame but if you've ridden much and know what you're looking for then by all means consider a custom frame.

Waterford - the best.
Rivendell - almost the best.
Bruce Gordon - VERY good touring bikes but he is opinionated as hell and if you don't agree with him he's very difficult to deal with.
Ed Litton - A very good frame builder with tons of experience but he only makes a limited number of frames each year and you have to hit him at just the right time.
Bob Jackson or Mercian are wonderful touring bike makers but if you are really big you probably don't want a standard size tubing bike which I believe is all they presently make.

There are others of course - Leonard Zinn is an expert large frame builder since he's REALLY TALL himself. Jobst Brandt has toured extensively on a bike with standard tubing and he's something like 6'7" or so tall though he's pretty thin. Still, he climbs like a bandit and decends like a skydiver with a failed chute without problems.
Just a side question, what is it that you prefer in a Waterford over a Rivendell?

Rivendell is selling the paint job and the nostalgia, waterford is more techie. As to which will build you the better bike, I have no idea.

Just to throw in .02 more on all of this. I don't think a persons height or weight, barring extreme variations, will have much impact on their ability to get stock frames to fit. I'm around 280 and the Trek 520 fit my weight just fine.

It's more about proportions. I'm oddly proportioned. At 6'2", my inseam is only 30". The stock bikes that fit my inseam never worked for me in top tube length and vice versa, the frames that had a nice top tube length prevented me from straddling the top tube without crushing....anyway...

I got a custom built bike from from IF (who also makes a sexy looking touring bike btw) and it fits like a dream. I'd rather that I didn't have to spend the $$ to go for the custom, but to be honest, at my size, I'm used to it. (54" chest, 40" waist, try finding an off the rack suit in those dimensions!)

As for custom bike manufacturers, I have to think any of the one's above will do nicely. Any framemaker which is producing shoddy work won't be in business for long these days. It'll be hard to go wrong.

Hey ronjon10 we are almost the same size only I'm even more extreme I'm 6'5" (at least I used to be) and I have a 30 inch inseam. In jersey's none ever fit, they are never long enough, even when tall and wide.

I really hope that I will like my custom frame as much as you like yours.

If I was in the OP's situation and had the money, I'd get a custom Vanilla http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/touring/index.html


with a 2 year wait.

I have 2 custom IFs and I love them both... they are in serious running for a touring bike as well

Hey ronjon10 we are almost the same size only I'm even more extreme I'm 6'5" (at least I used to be) and I have a 30 inch inseam. In jersey's none ever fit, they are never long enough, even when tall and wide.

I really hope that I will like my custom frame as much as you like yours.

Hahaha, #@$#@$ jerseys! The only biking jersey I have is an old Polo RLX which is about 5 years old. It was cut extra long and the bottom trim isn't banded. I think it was meant for mountain biking. I pretty much gave up on trying for jerseys and just wear cool max type t shirts.

No worries on your bike, you're going to love it!

ps. Don't sweat the wheel size either, at our weight, brakes are much more important! I got of set of Paul Touring Cantilevers after my first set of brakes (don't remember the make/model) disintegrated on me. These have been bombproof for me, fit with fenders, and most importantly, stop me. Takes a pretty good grip, but that's not a problem.
http://www.ride-this.com/Paul_Touring_Canti_Brake_01-020050012.html

Here's a pic of my loaded bike from the england trip:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/pics/01/docs/00/00/01/90/large/BikeCloseUp.jpg?v=2

Rivendell is selling the paint job and the nostalgia, waterford is more techie.

From where does dookey like this come? I believe Waterford built bikes for Rivendell in the past.