adrien

With a big birthday and a continued cycling discipline taking me 2-3k miles a year, it felt like the time was right.

I've been looking for the right custom builder for about 9 months, and finally settled on Ira Ryan over the last week. Spoke to him yesterday and will send a check to hold my place in line shortly.

Going for lugged steel, big tubes for stiffness, and probably a classic crowned fork. Likely go for traditional geometry and a longer wheelbase, as I don't race and I like long rides. I'll move most of the transmission over from my current ride (Kona Kapu) to help keep the costs lowish initially. It will be big -- top tube likely 59-60 or so.

I'm excited about the ride, and the process, and the concept of owning somehting so beutiful and unique that is tuned to me. Any tips from folks out there who got custom builds?

CliftonGK1

Who's your builder? (No advice, since I ride a stock frame)

adrien

Ira Ryan -- www.iraryancycles.com

CliftonGK1

Holy carps! He raced the RAID Californie - Oregon and the Trans-Iowa.

Given your ideal riding style and thoughts on design, I'm thinking the Rando or the Tour is a good starting point for your frame design.

retriever7

Unless you have an unusual proportioned body, you could probably fit a stock frame with 'custom' being stem length and rise, determining whether you need a standard or set back seat post, cleat adjustments and so on. If you really want custom you might want to pay a visit to David Greenfield, founder of Elite Bicycles. He does a six hour fit that costs around $489.00. Though I have not been through it myself if you read about it on his website it sounds incredibly impressive.

adrien

Appreciate the thought -- the primary consideration is perfection of fit and more importantly ride characteristics, plus I'm looking for something unique.