I've nothing but praise for Paul Hillbrick from Hillbrick Bicycles.

He discussed everything with me at length. Made suggestions to make the build more effective or efficient. My concept was not a standard or common one yet he asked enough questions to enable him to understand what it was I wanted and then ensured that I got it. His workmanship is excellent and two years on, the bike still looks brand new. Highly recommended.

As for the cost, you don't go the custom route to build a cheap bike, though Paul also does frames that are a lot cheaper ( and more expensive) than mine. The final bill, though hefty, was perfectly reasonable for what I got. You won't buy a bike like mine in any shop but the price I paid would get me a bike of similar quality.

A custom made bike is not just for racers, they are for anyone who knows what they want and can't find it in the shops, as well as those who just want something special. The caveat is that you have to pay for it but consider this, you are ( or should be) paying a craftsman to do the work, not a production line.