sgtdirt

not even close in your price range but, wow, nice looking steel frames. Chris King does it righteous.
Cross Racer and Cross Racer Disc ? Cielo Cycles

dr_lha

Thanks for the heads up. I was just checking out the geometry, and you're right. The reach is larger than any of the other bikes I'm considering, about the same as my Ritchey (but that's a road bike and has a lower stack, i.e. more agressive). As I'm expecting this bike to be a more "upright" geo, that's not good for me. I don't think a 58 would fit me, and a 56 is too small (not enough stack height).

Rules it out I think.

dr_lha

Very cool, but yeah, out of my price range!

sgtdirt

whole list of custom builders.
Directory Of Custom American Handmade Road Bike Frame Builders |

sgtdirt

Ben's Cycle - Frames

dr_lha

Any of them make a sub $700 frame?

sgtdirt

idk for sure. i guess you would have to actually click on one of the links to find out.

Kopsis

No, but some may be surprised to find that sub $1000 full-custom is definitely possible. Curtlo CX frames are $990 and (IMHO) worth every penny.

dr_lha

Sorry you misunderstood my attempt at humor, and being rhetorical.

dr_lha

Sure, but that $990 price is listed on their webpage that says "2011 pricing". 5 years later, is it still $990? Not to matter, I think I have options in my price range.

fietsbob

Maxway TW is who many importers go to for the actual fabrication, for many of the popular Brands .

Steel is a material a single builder can use to make Frames in Garage Home shops.

But for Volume at low prices Maxway is, apparently, hard to beat.

they even get custom made dropouts manufactured with your logo on them.

MAXWAY Cycles Co., Ltd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1vvcXfMHlY

any one of their customers brands appeal to you?

dr_lha

Yes, my Ritchey is made by Maxway I believe (at least, Maxway list Ritchey as one of their customers on their website).They make Surly, Salsa and All City I think as well.

But they're not in the market of selling me a single frame, so not really an option other than through a third party US frame seller.

fietsbob

Lots of builders and other links here: Bike Industry Links

dr_lha

So to update this, today I put down a deposit on a Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross frameset in British Racing Green. Apparently they're expecting a new shipment of frames in the next week or so. Looking forward to building my new Gravel/CX bike!

dr_lha

Oh and how rude of me, thanks everyone for your input in this thread!

trail_monkey

I may be a little late but I bought a Vassago Fisticuff frame last december. It was a 2015 stock sale. The frame and fork normally costs just around 600 bucks but I got the combo for 350 bucks. It is set up for either disc or canti as well as sliders for single speed. I do have a Soma B Side (in regards to Soma frames) and I almost bought a Soma Doublecross before I found this. Soma makes NICE frames too. Plus Tom from Vassago will get you parts for your build at a discount if you buy his frames. Here are some pics of mine during build and after.

cs1

Ditto, the best looking bike I've ever seen.

dr_lha

Yep, you're a bit late.

I hadn't heard of Vassago before though, so thanks for the heads-up. Not a huge fan of the white paint job, but looks like a nice frameset, and a great deal for $350. Certainly cool that the frame can be built up with discs or cantis, and the track style dropouts are pretty cool for setting up the bike single-speed.

Jarrett2

trail_monkey

There's other colors but since it was close out pricing I had to settle for what was left.

dr_lha

Progress!

Jarrett2

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.