Framebuilders - Selecting a builder for a steel frame

I'm a few years away from buying next road bike, I'm hoping that I can afford a custom steel bike. What are some the ways that you can evaluate/select a builder? I've no experience in custom bicycles - but I know that I would prefer steel.

Questions like yours leave much up for speculation, they can attract much attention as well. Many builders are out there; some clients prefer to stay local or regional.
Here's a builder you could check-out, a good one and a bit less known.
I've only to add that you ought to allow for lead time, builders can take eight months or more. www.bilenky.com (http://www.bilenky.com)

There is a great article on that very subject in the summer issue of BQ: http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/vbqindex.html
but basically, you need to narrow down just want you want ("steel road bike" is a bit too broad as just about every builder does them), then you can look at the builders that fill that niche. Then, call/email the builders and go from there.

I'm a few years away from buying next road bike, I'm hoping that I can afford a custom steel bike. What are some the ways that you can evaluate/select a builder? I've no experience in custom bicycles - but I know that I would prefer steel.


Selecting a builder can be difficult..... because evaluations of someone's work depends on who you ask. Everyone has their own preference for what a frame would could and should be.

I would be more concerned with knowing what I want..... braze ons, tire sizes .... dimensions ect. Lugged or welded?

My custom frame I went through a bike shop who gave the order to a custom builder... Jack Franklin of Franklin Frames. I didn't know anything about him, and did the best I could to think of what exactly I wanted. In hindsight I would have had tire clearance for larger tires and fenders, I just didn't know enough of what I may have wanted not only then, but in the future. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with the frame. I've now used him for other frame repairs and painting..... he's very good at it and is great to talk with. I would not hesitate to have him build another frame. For myself ..... I want an accessible, easy to talk to frame builder. If I needed to change something I want to communicate that directly to the builder without going through a third or fourth party. This generally means a builder who is low profile ..... one you may not have heard of. Jack for instance is a one man operation. . . has low overhead and is very reasonable in pricing.(I got my lugged Reynold 531 frame/fork for $775 in 1999, a comparable one now is maybe a few hundred more). I'm sure there are some other builders like this in North America.

The good news is you don't have to spend all that much to get a custom frame...... $1000-1200 can get a superb frame/fork. Remember it's a long term investment .... so don't cut corners!

my 2 cents ...

I'm a few years away from buying next road bike, I'm hoping that I can afford a custom steel bike. What are some the ways that you can evaluate/select a builder? I've no experience in custom bicycles - but I know that I would prefer steel.

Having just completed the process of having a custom steel frame made my opinion would be to find the closest builder with the best reputation. In the upper left corner where I live there are many to choose from. I live in the Portland area and chose a builder in Winthrop, Washington, Doug Curtiss (Curtlo Cycles) to build my bike.

I had researched him online and talked to three people who had had bikes made by him. Everything I read online was positive and I am very happy with my bike.

A full accounting of the process can be read here http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=590473

Beautiful bike - and good story - thanks
Bob

http://throughtheringer.com/2009/10/10/297/
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