55/Rad

In Bicycling magazine last year - I believe it was the October issue - there was a sidebar mini column about an Idaho based custom builder. I remember Bicycling claimed it had "one of the most beautiful paintjobs they'd ever seen." - or something like that.

I'm trying to dig up the name of the builder - I'll know it when I see it. Spark any memories?

Thanks for the help.

55/Rad

drdhsimon

Could it have been Carl Strong? I think he may be in Montana though. just a guess

H1449-6

Go here for a list of lots o' custom builders:

https://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/framebuilders.html

55/Rad

Nope - I'm familiar with them. This company had a funny name...as I recall.

pigmode

Hang on a bit. I should be receiving a frame next week painted by a person of whom many consider among the top sprayers (including JB) in the country.

55/Rad

Top for the evening crowd.

Patriot

Dumb question, but have you tried any google searches for custom bicycle Idaho?

55/Rad

You must have me confused with somebody who has a clue.

Patriot

I found this one by Alpine Desgins in Sandpoint ID.

Nice looking cyclocross frame. They do mostly MTB's and cyclo-cross, but do road frames too. I wouldn't place this paint job in the top range of artistic expression, but I do like it quite a bit.

55/Rad

Nice looking frame. But not the company I'm looking for. Neither is Thursday Bikes in Pocatella.

Serpico

built for a knuckle-dragger--look at the length of that bike, compared with the height!! damn




(you could put a lot of spacers on that uncut fork Patriot)

jsharr

Could it be

https://www.dobbiacocycles.com/

found in google know nothing about them.

55/Rad

No, but thanks for trying. Interesting looking rigs - never heard of them.

I beginning to think Idaho wasn't the state. Montana maybe?

I believe it's the October issue as it's the only one I haven't checked. Damn, this is frustrating. I spent an hour on the phone with their painter when I was looking for somebody to take over the Tete project - guy does amazing work and is independent of the framebuilder.

55/Rad

Serpico

you're talking about Joe Bell (painter) who is recognized as the best in the business, Dave Kirk is the Montana framebuilder (a former longtime employee of Serotta, he designed the DKS suspension system and scores of other innovations)--Bell also does the paint for other builders including Richard Sachs, Curt Goodrich, Rivendell and others

He shares a shop with Bill Holland (probably some of the nicest Ti frames available, and one of the few builders with the rights to the same exogrid system Titus uses)

https://www.joebell.biz

https://kirkframeworks.com/Photo%20Gallery.htm

https://richardsachs.com/gallery/index.htm

https://curtgoodrich.com/gallery.html



note how the masking runs down the middle of the lugs

55/Rad

Thanks Zig - but I'm not talking about Joe Bell. I had several conversations with Joe but passed on having him do the Tete - which ended up being a big mistake.

The guy I'm looking for is a one man shop - a virtual unknown.

H1449-6

I've seen you allude to some paint job taking forever several times before. What's the story?

55/Rad

How much time you got?

2 years ago, I wanted to build a dream bike. For a variety of reasons, I bought a used Lemond Tete de Course frame - combination of Ti and carbon - and decided to get it custom painted by the same guy who does the fantastic work on the Vanilla custom bikes - Acme Bicycle Paint Shop here in Portland.

I delivered the frame to him on July 27, 2004. It's still not done.

It's become the bane of my existence and the subject of a lot of ridicule and abuse.

55/Rad

dmotoguy

do you remember if he was in or near boise?

H1449-6

So what's he telling you the problem is?

Nothing wrong with pulling the job and sending to to Joe Bell, Cyclart or someone else, is there?

woodcycl

Rad -- it doesn't appear to be in Sept or Oct Issues from 2005. I lent out my Nov issue so I am unable to check that one.

55/Rad

Might have been.

Except that it's one-off custom that's 90% done and sending it to them would mean starting over.

Dang - I swore it was in the October issue - I must be losing my mind. Thanks for checking.

55/Rad

MICHAELM

The only one I could find is Steve Forsness of G Forse Bikes 208-772-7427.
That number is Idaho. Hope that helps. By the way, I have read so many posts about the cycling magazines and everyone kinda makes fun of Bicycling. I guess I am one of the very few that actually enjoy the magazine. If that is the guy you are looking for, it was in the October '05 issue.

woodcycl

What page/area did you see this info -- just curious. I have paged thru the entire magazine twice slowly. Probably my old age! Haha

MICHAELM

Page 92.

55/Rad

Do they mention anything about the paint?