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09-04-06, 01:42 PM
So I am really thinking about getting a custom steel frame for myself for graduating, again, but I have a few questions to see what people have to say...
What I am looking for:
Lugged Steel
Geometry- Just like my '03 Felt, with the TT 1cm shorter. I have that bike perfectly dialed in, I would just like to move from a 90 to a 100 mm stem (everone says that 100-110 is nuetral for stem length)
A builder whose turn around time is less than 1yr
Frame <$2000, Frame and carbon fork <$2300
I guess I would fall under club riding (I solo mostly, ride between 30-50 miles couple time a week, no racing or touring). I am currently on VERY flat land, but looks like I might be moving the WA, NM, or SC it is still up in the air, but large foothills could be in my future.
My questions:
Is there any difference in lugs (excluding the geometry) or is it just looks?
Is there anything that I should know about the different steels? Companies/quality? Is this something that you can trust the builder on? I have an early-mid 80's Basso, Columbus ??.
Any suggestions? (walker, johnny cycle, if)
What do you look for in a builder?
Should you worry about who does their paint?
Not important, but it would be nice:
Is it possible to build a frame that could take a 10speed wheel and a fixed wheel (130 spacing) without having to change cranks or BB? I do not think that you can, but I just thought that I would ask.
Thanks
What I am looking for:
Lugged Steel
Geometry- Just like my '03 Felt, with the TT 1cm shorter. I have that bike perfectly dialed in, I would just like to move from a 90 to a 100 mm stem (everone says that 100-110 is nuetral for stem length)
A builder whose turn around time is less than 1yr
Frame <$2000, Frame and carbon fork <$2300
I guess I would fall under club riding (I solo mostly, ride between 30-50 miles couple time a week, no racing or touring). I am currently on VERY flat land, but looks like I might be moving the WA, NM, or SC it is still up in the air, but large foothills could be in my future.
My questions:
Is there any difference in lugs (excluding the geometry) or is it just looks?
Is there anything that I should know about the different steels? Companies/quality? Is this something that you can trust the builder on? I have an early-mid 80's Basso, Columbus ??.
Any suggestions? (walker, johnny cycle, if)
What do you look for in a builder?
Should you worry about who does their paint?
Not important, but it would be nice:
Is it possible to build a frame that could take a 10speed wheel and a fixed wheel (130 spacing) without having to change cranks or BB? I do not think that you can, but I just thought that I would ask.
Thanks