Originally Posted by
Wildwood
Why do people argue against finding reputable local framebuilders to learn about bikes and fit and alternative approaches to solving concerns. It doesn't have to be custom, even Vanilla Workshop with years long wait for custom, more work than they need, offers a 'standard' line of bikes.
Because frames are no longer a frontier AND I don't know builders that know much about fit.
I'm into customer hand made stuff. I spent some time with (with torch) and got a custom frame built by Gary Hale who trained Dwan Shepard (Co-Motion). Then Dwan built his 1st tandem for me pre-CoMotion and another Co-Motion later. Gary's bikes, while stronger and more expertly made didn't ride as well as the Italian "prison bikes". They were called that as they were reported to be made by prisoners in Italy. There is something to be said for brand and time and owning the design and trouble shooting it.
Single frames are now mature. Pretty much so are rims. Someone making a big deal about all the customer things they do is selling attention. Pros do and have ridden off-the-shelf stock bikes for years now (also UCI rules), so it is hard to improve on that if you are a normal shaped person.
But when it comes to other stuff there is still a lot of innovation going on. Francois (FMB) makes me tires and I think they are better than mainstream tires. Taiwan is at the front of that. Harry Fang - RECON, Ken Chang - KCNC is hand crafting. Those are not USA brands, but they are innovative people doing innovative things. I like supporting them.