Originally Posted by
adrien
Sounds pretty. I went through the same thing with my build -- just got it recently (see separate post).
In my case, I was heading that way but changed my mind in part in talking to Ira Ryan, who built mine. Idea was a combination of a classic look and the ability to "go retro" in the future and use DT friction shifters. As much as I like modern mechanical gear sets, I am more likely to go to friction shifters than electronic, and even if I did the DT posts are pretty enough.
It's all a matter of taste, though. Keep in mind that even though it's YOUR bike, it's also got their name on it. A custom bike, based on my experience, is more of a collaboration than ordering up exactly what you want.
That said, sounds very pretty. Don't forget to show us when it arrives.
well re: collaboration...
I sent him a very detailed build sheet, with a pic of my current bike, setup measurements, and geometry, and a description of my riding style. told him I wanted an aggressive, race-able bike, etc.
I don't know how their process will go from here, but I have a feeling that a guy with this much experience will just kind of know what works. I'm going to send him some more pics of me and my bike for reference.
assuming everything goes well, I'll do a write up in a few months documenting the process for others who might be as unsure as I was about this.