spiderbike

I'm thinking of upgrading from my first road bike (trek 1000) to something a liittle more advanced. I'm doing my first century in august but am not concerned with having a bike that is racing quality. I ride mostly for enjoyment and fitness. Most of my rides are between 25 - 35 miles. I can't decide on whether to get a Company built bike or a custom bike.

Are the prices that different?

stric

Perhaps the biggest benefit of custom frmaes is custom fit that can be achieved so that the frame "fits" you better. But of course, there are other benefits as well, most notably the build quality, craftsmanship, some unique detailing, paint jbs and so on. In short you can really get something that can be unique and only trylly yours. The problem with all this is mone-it's expensive.
On the other hand many manufacturers are coming up with some standardized designs, sizes and geometries that sufficiently address the issues of frame-fit. These frames/bikes might not be the prettiest but many of them are definitely excelent frames/bikes.
So if you have some extra money to burn and you really want a bike that would be different and only yours... go custom. If you just want abike to ride and you find a good fit in a standard line up of any manufacturer... go with that one.

voltman

Can you fit on factory frames comfortably?

spiderbike

The problem I have is that I need to around a 62mm bike, so it is hard finding that size frame in LBS to test ride. If I have one ordered I get no deal from LBS...

KevinF

I think one of the main benefits of a custom bike is that you get to specify exactly how you want the bike to handle. i.e., laid back geometry for touring, racing-style geometry, how stiff do you want the bike, etc. If you don't know the answers to those types of questions -- i.e., exactly what do you want out of a bike? -- then I think that going fully custom is a waste of time.

Trogon

With your size, you're a good candiate for a custom bike. They can be price competitive, depending on how much you want to spend. I've done 4, and given the quality, the tailoring and componentry, they actually ended up much less expensive than an equivalent rack bike. Like everything else, it depends on what you want.

The custom process is a blast, you get to be part of the whole process from tubes to road and you end up with something that is only yours.

Give a call to Carl Strong, he built my first and he is a very helpful guy when it comes to talking about doing your first bike. https://www.strongframes.com

Thylacine

Well, you're not going to be able to get a custom company to make a test bike in your size either, so that point is kinda moot.

People will always argue you don't NEED a custom bike. Well durr, of course you don't. You don't NEED 90% of the things you own. Welcome to Consumerism!

However, if you love your cycling, have fit issues, or just want something that's unique and truely yours, then custom is a fantastic way to go.

Yes, I am biased, but what made me start my company was - you guessed it - getting a custom bike. It was a bike from a well known company and frankly, it was absolutely sh¡t! They left braze-ons off, the dimensions and angles were all off....basically it was not good. So I vowed to do better, and now there isn't an off-the-peg bike I'd want to own. I ride the equivalent of a 62cm myself, so I know intimately the issues that face us tall guys, too.

So my advice to anyone wanting a custom frame, is 'why not'? It's a much more rewarding experience than just going into a shop and buying something anyone else can buy, and you end up with a frame the likes of which have never been seen before - truly unique and truely your own.

Another important thing to consider - don't be a tight arse. You're paying for a quality of service and quality product for something that's pretty special, so if you go the custom option, pick someone you connect with trust in their expertise. Don't just dip a little toe on the water and opt for something cheap and nasty.

That's it in a nutshell. If you have any specific custom questions, fire me an e-mail!

spiderbike

I love riding, being in shape, enjoy a couple races a year but I don't care about having about the wieght of a bike if the difference is in grams. I want a frame that fits well, absorbs roadshock, and rides smooth. I expect to put money into frame and wheels. I will discuss components futher...

Thanks for the advice, ya'll have motivated me to look futher into the custom before making a decision...

H1449-6

Get a bike that fits you, your riding style and your budget. If that's a custom bike, so be it.