Hey all,

I know people are riding a hodge-podge of bikes out there, some new, some old, track frames, converted road frames (like me) and god knows what else. I'm living in Japan and I know that a lot of people out there would love to have a Japanese frame, particularly a track frame but the price and availability is usually an issue.

Well, my girlfriend and I have been brainstorming some ideas but I need some feedback. Since most of us are priced out of the cost of a new frame, let alone a custom built one, what would be the realistic price you would want to invest in a hand-built semi-custom frame? Actually there are several questions. Also, feel free to PM me privately and for anyone here in Tokyo please get a hold of me just for a ride sometime.

Oh, and this is not market research for some big company, just a fixed fan with ideas that might be a bit too big but who knows, Anyway, thanks for any input.

Our idea centers on semi-custom track/single speed lugged frames with track end forks (probably) that would be partially if not entirely hand built.

1. Price: We're thinking of a price between 450-600 before delivery. How would that sound? Too high, just about right?

2. Geometry: we'll be basing the idea on the Japanese Keirin track frames but not everyone is pro-track frames for the road. The bike could be set up for both, but what would you like to see?

3. Sizing: Probably 56, 57, 59 to start roughly but for those of you vertically challenged or endowed, what sizes are real hard to come by?

4. Customization: We'd want to offer some customization, which of these would be most important?
a. Geometry* If so, which angles and sizings would be most important to you?
b. Paint/Chrome (possibly including your own designs, combinations, etc.): What would you like to be able to do?
c. Custom lugs/steel: I'm pretty excited about this but I don't know how realistic it is yet. Basically there would be some set icons/designs and possibly your own creations that could be forged into some of the lugwork, think of the cute little hearts at the top of the front forks on Vivalo frames and the logos pressed into the bottom lugs of some track frames.

5. Fair Trade: This idea involves production in an underdeveloped country, would you be willing to pay a bit more to insure that the workers involved in production are getting fair treatment and above living wages?

6. Availability: Eventually we would want to have frames in LBS but largely this would all be on the internet, you would send in your specs, pay and then it would arrive. Obviously with proven bikes out there (IRO, Surly, etc) there is enough feedback available but it would be a while for this on a new bike. What are your feelings on this?


I know this is a long post, thanks for staying with it and I look forward to hearing your ideas. For anyone who might be getting their hopes up, let me just say this is an only a sketch of an idea and if it were to happen it would be a ways off. But, we are hoping to start talking to some Japanese frame builders here to get more info.

thanks, cluv