Originally Posted by
njkayaker
While these are points are correct, I bet these kinds of problems never really happen. Most people buying a custom frame are going to be aware of bicycle differences and talk to an appropriate builder (that's the whole point of going custom). For many reasons, a custom builder who builds a carbon bike isn't going to agree to build something he really has no experience building. Keep in mind that custom builders have reputations to maintain.
I was using that as an illustration, personally I think carbon fibre reinforced plastic as a frame material is over rated, but I don't want to really get into that. However most of us who would even entertain a custom bike are looking for something, for example the ability to put wider tires on then usual or to deal with a fit issue, and custom would deal with that. Then again some people want custom because they want a bicycle that is made by a local craftsman rather then by slaves in a factory on the other side of the planet. If the cost is the same or very close, why not?
Having said all that though, once in the owners possession all bikes get customized to some degree, so why not start at the building stage?