jyl

You have decided to take the leap and build a full custom bike.

You're going to choose a frame builder, specify a design, geometry, tubing, braze-ons, features. As your torchmaster is building your custom frame, you will decide on your cosmetic scheme, be it wet paint, powder, chrome, polish, matte, decals (custom too). You will also choose your components, wheels, gearing, accessories. The world is your oyster, as you pick and mix whatever combination of vintage, any era, and new, that you wish.

What are you building? Walk us through your thinking, your choices, your inspirations, your goals.

Nothing in this thought experiment requires that you build a C&V bike, and in fact starting with a custom frame precludes a 100% C&V build unless you have a time machine. But you are bringing to this your sensibilities and experience as a certified C&V geek. I'm interested to hear what you would do.

Barrettscv 

I'd have Waterford replicate my Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra geometry in Reynolds 953. I'd want the frameset to fit a 700x30 tire using Velo Orange 57mm reach brakes. The frame should use polished lugs and painted black. Braze-ons for fenders should be included.

Mechanically, the bike would feature modern Campagnolo Record drivetrain. Wheels would be tubeless ready.

Waterford - Custom Bicycles and Frames

exmechanic89

This kind of isnt what's being asked, but I've been amazed at how people pay thousands for bikes now that are not custom made - the frame, that is. I realize that making a custom carbon frame is probably incredibly/prohibitively expensive so that's why they're not made, but I've always thought if you're gonna spend a fortune on a bike, a frame built to your specs is part of the deal. I guess not so much anymore.

markwesti

Well I guess if it's a dream build , then we would have a dream budget ? I would have this bike replicated .
https://www.google.com/search?q=pina...y0L4OOLELtM%3A

Chrome Molly 

I have a custom KVA road bike with a nod toward the past, but performance of today. Mix of chorus, record, and SR. Climbs beautifully, and is a fantastic century bike.

To be honest, the next act will likely be a titanium gravel bike with aggressive road like manners, but room for 45's if needed. It will only need drivetrain maintenance over the winter, vs constant bathing and careful drying. Drivetrain will be an external bb Sugino crank with 46/30 rings pulling an 12-32 bashed up cassette, operated with potenza (or maybe force) mechanicals. Standard tires for most efforts will be continental 4000 s2 28's, but it could of course go bigger for the rougher stuff or packed in winter snow and ice. Would likely put canti's on it, as I'm not a fan of discs. That mix is decidedly non C&V, but it would reflect the reality of Minnesota in our salty winter and our sloppy springtime.

Pic of the roadie (now sports ardennes wheels which I like a little better in cross winds and climbs).

ldmataya 

I would create an all around road bike that would last the rest of my riding life plus many many more years. High tech but low maintenance and hopefully repairable 200 years from now.

So it would be a tour geometry, titanium, drop bar, fender mounts, disc brakes with thru axle hubs and a seat mast instead of a seat post. The trickiest part would be buttressing the downtube so there is room for a door hiding the battery and computer components.

Drivetrain is DI2 or sram etap shifting, but 1 x front ring for simplicity and maintenance purposes. Would start with rear gearing about 11x36, knowing it could easily be 10x42 at some point. Not sure if I would worry about internal wiring to the rear dropout since before long everything will operate on near field wireless as etap already does.

Braking is hydro disc with bleed port that can be plugged into removable port in metallic flexible tubing.

Front and rear lighting is integrated into the bar and rear of the saddle mount.

Wheels are traditional jbend spoked tubeless clinchers, frame has room for 40mm tires.

Haven't figured out what the cosmetic details are yet.

bmthom.gis

I don't really have a dream machine. I want good steel (maybe stainless?) built by Demon Frameworks (his lugs are awesome), clearance for 38c tires and fenders just cause, not sure one groupset - maybe Campy or SRAM, probably not Shimano. Two wheelsets - one lightweight and the other a bit more sturdy with a hub generator on the front with internal wiring up to the cockpit and the fork crown. Geometry would be similar to my Synapse

repechage

I would meet or send the builder my dimensions and if by distance images or a video of me on a bike I liked, including contact dimension points. Advise my intended use, component spec.
Let them go to work.
Spec color and with a few builders note things I liked of theirs such as a fork crown style to seat stay top eye look.

DMC707 

This is underway now (or at least in the planning stages ) - for my new track bike

I am embracing the fact that I'm a Clydesdale so i am having a frame built for the way i look and ride now,

I am wanting to replicate the geometry of my 18 year old Waterford trackie, -- but lengthen the headtube -- since the headtube will be taller, I am proposing to lengthen the top tube just a smidge to compensate -- keep the same relative reach, but open up the hip angle

Looks matter, so i have proposed using a sloped top tube to minimize the appearance of the longer front end, as well as a extended full length seat tube -- will use the stub of a Thomson post or something similar for fine seat adjustments

I would prefer a steel fork built to match the frame with a tapered mtb style headtube , -- but we are not quite there in the process --- there are a few off the rack carbon forks that would work well as well, but they have straight 1 1/8" tubes (track technology lags road and mtb stuff by at least a decade or more )

Oversize thinwall tubing is a natural for this build --- And i really want to use a super heavy heavy metal flake, -- bass boat style for the finish, --- color still TBD ---

basically i want something big, fast and loud (which is the antithesis of my riding style, but i wanted something that would make me smile, )plus provide a nice canvas for the framebuilder to show off a bit)

Track groups haven't changed in years --- The headset will be whatever the headtube size dictates, and i have a parts stash to take care of everything else . Due to my personal preference for a stiff front end though, i will likely spec a Thomson MTB stem with a modern set of 3T track handlebars

I have several training wheelsets it can wear as well , to include a nice Campy Pista deep section wheelset and a Corima 4 spoke pair -- A dream track build almost dictates using a Mavic disc/5 spoke combo, - but I'm not going to splurge on anything like that when i have suitable wheels on hand ----

---

Scooper

That was exactly my thinking ten years ago. I took the plunge then by ordering a custom Waterford RS-22 frameset built with Reynolds 953 OS tubing with stainless Sachs Newvex lugs. The whole thing is polished. I specified it should accommodate 28mm tires and have fender and rear rack braze-ons. The drivetrain is 2007 Campy Record 10-s.

After ten years and thousands of miles, I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing if I were to order today (well, maybe 11-s Record group). I'd still want a Waterford 953 polished frameset that could accommodate 28mm tires, equipped with Campy Record.

fietsbob

I learned Brazing skills and DIY'd a 'light touring' frame in 1975. It still works .. though over the decades
the component mix was changed..

It's top tube length, is over square, solving TCO issues with Western Oregon required Mudguards..



1990, I got to do a work with the guy who owned the shop, and mixed a combination of his Cargo Bike parts,

Burly's tandem parts, and making some of the parts myself, from the materials on hand,

and some on the fly designs, that are Unique..


and now back to the road bike themed thread..

squirtdad

for a builder I would go to Kirk.

and for classic design I would go with his roma model with threaded head set. Red of course because red is faster for Italian inspired bikes.

The big question is groupset. The newest ones are all kind of "not classic" to be nice. Going Campy is obvious choice, and seems like potenza there......but it was not uncommon for bare Italian frames to be set up with shimano....... I think I would lean to using Shimano, probably Ultegra (though the 105 silver would be an option)

Nitto stem and bar. Chris King head set

Tubie wheels, Ambrosia rims, not sure of hub

KonAaron Snake 

It would be this...because that's what I did...



The walk through went like this...

My wife and I planned a honeymoon in Italy following our wedding. I felt like rather than coming home with the usual schlocky souvenires...fake murano glass, faux-vintage made in china pinnochio...photos with gladiator wearing converse...I'd come back with an Italian frame. CDM, who I hardly knew at the time, offered to advise with his considerable expertise, and, following his generous advice, I selected Daniel Marnati.

From there...Daniele asked lots of questions, and then asked what I thought of Columbus MAX. I said sure. My wife helped me pick the colors, and they were based on our wedding colors (which are our faves). From there, it was basically just letting Daniele do what he thought best. He had initially planned on putting decals and a headbadge on it based on Max Headroom (a fact I didn't know at the time), but he ran out of time for such customization and went more traditional. Dodged a bullet!

It worked out amazingly well..and, bonus, I got to ride on the back of a Vespa with slotcar55, who is a wonderful gentleman.

As far as build choices, that was somewhat influenced by the fork. Early on, Daniele asked me if I wanted the original fork, or skew modern...I wanted original. That meant 1 inch/threaded. I decided to merge modern/classic and go for a modern where it counts with vintage accents approach.

I picked super record because it was a once in a life time build, and what else would do? I went with 2010 in early 2011 because it was FAR less money and I thought it fit the 2010 build date better. I tried to keep the whole thing as Italian as possible...and when I compromised, I tried to stay euro. The Silca pump was a special surprise from Daniele. Hence the Look kg292 SPDish pedals. The bell and plugs are not euro, because I've stopped caring over the years and I really like Rootboy's work and spurcycle bells.

If I ever get another custom, I'll probably do something very similar to what the well missed jr. did...Spectrum Sports tourer. I'd also strongly consider Kirk and Mooney.

Build list:

Campy 2010 11sp SR derailleurs, brakes, ergos, hubs (record), cranks, chain, housings.
Campy mid-90s record seatpost
ti-rail regal
cinelli 1R and cinelli giros
Mavic open pros
DT Swiss spokes
25c veloflex
OMAS cartridge headset
Fizik microtech tape
Berthoud bag
Bar plugs by rootboy
Spurcycle bell
Look KG252s
Wheelsmith spokes
MAX F/F
Silca pump/campy head
Cobra bottles, Ciussi cages

Salamandrine 

I can honestly say I wouldn't want anything much differently than the custom Mercian I put together last year. 725OS with some cool JDM parts mix was my plan, and I am very happy with it. It is true that when I ordered the Mercian I didn't know about some of the new builders working today. That being so, if I had to have another, maybe I'd order a similar bike from a small builder that was slightly more artsy crafty. I'm thinking 73 parallel audax geometry, maybe 853OS, some unique hand cut lug work, and braze on center pulls. Definitely wet paint.

Oh hell, while we are at it just make it from 953 fully polished with some decorative painted panels. Oh, and I think I'd splurge for Paul QR skewers.

Here's the updated specs of my real dream bike:

Frame: Mercian King of Mercia, Reynolds 725 OS, touring geometry, custom 58cm top tube, black pearl with white band

Headset: Chris King no-threadset silver - w/silver spacers
Wheels: White Industries A11, Velocity A23 28/32, DT 14/15 spokes
Skewers: Hope red road skewers
Tires: Continental 4000S II (or Fairweather 700x28)
Rimstrips: Stan’s rim tape
Handlebars: Nitto M172-42
Stem: Nitto U21EX 11cm
Seatpost: Nitto S65 27.2 250mm
Seat: Brooks Professional Ti – blk
Handlebar End Plugs: Velox black
Tape: Fizik dk grey, soft superlight
Brake Calipers: Gran Compe 610 center pull
Levers: TRP RL black hoods
Cable Hangers: Problem Solver’s cyclocross & Nitto AS-1
Crank: Sugino Mighty Tour 50/34
BB: Phil Wood JIS 108
Derailleur, Front: Shimano CX 70
Derailleur, Rear: Microshift Arsis
Shifters: Dura Ace 10spd DT
Chain: Shimano 600 Cassette: 11-28, Shimano 600
Pedals: Shimano A600
Bottle cages: Nitto R (x2)
Front rack: Nitto M18 or Carradice Handlebar bag with Klikfix mount
Rear rack: Nitto 33R

noglider 

@jyl, are you asking us what we would have built, or are you asking what process we would go through to specify it?

In case you didn't notice, @rhm has a thread on this. I don't even remember what stage that bike is in. It's either finished or nearly finished. He had a Brooklyn frame builder make the frame, and it is made to accept very fat 26" tires but is designed to be as fast as a bike of that weight can possibly be.

KonAaron Snake 

There have been a few threads like this...but it's still fun to re-fantasize, and expecting people to check through the forum to make sure there's no prior "version" is probably unrealistic.

Heck - there would only be 200 threads...the rest are just replication.

calamarichris

I can't imagine having a custom frame, as much as I love my Lemond, Masi, Look, and Schwinn Pelotons. The only dreambike I can imagine commissioning would be a lugged steel version of my aluminium Globe Live 3 porteur commuter


With a paint job about like this, but with the paint emphasizing the lugs.

velomateo

I'm currently dreaming of a Hampsten Team Pro, with 1 inch (threaded) steel fork (curved). Found one the other day on flickr and I can't stop thinking about it. To my eye, it's perfect - exactly what I want in a frame/bike. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127867448@N07/

For the build, I think Campy Record 10 was petty much the perfect group. In carbon or alloy, it's a win. Cinelli 66-44 bars and A1 stem, Mavic MA-40's...done.

DIMcyclist

A fantasy bike on an unlimited budget??

Hmmmm...

The particular road bike I'd want already exists; I've even seen it first hand: a Mondonico Monza; black; chromed fork crown, stays, & HT lugs; internally ducted R. brake line; full Campy Daytona 10sp. I'd gladly settle for a Kalavinka Super Exhibition with DA 7700; DT wheelset.

But as far as would defined as something personal & unique, I guess I'd prefer a 650a or 700c touring bike, built along the lines of an early '60s Toei Stag, albeit with a full set of touring braze-ons for racks, panniers, etc. Alex Singer lugs; internal brake cable routing; internal generator cable routing (similar to my Toei); King dropouts; maybe pump pegs on the L. seat stay. The tubeset would be pretty unique, some Kaisei equivalent of Ishiwata EX or EXT, albeit with plain-guage chainstays- bent, like those of an early Stumpjumper; kickstand plate; Pacenti biplane fork crown. I'd be inclined to keep it all JIS (even if Chris King doesn't make JIS headsets).

Paint to match the 1985 Raleigh Kodiak, and built either by Greg Morris (formerly of Milholland Cycles, now with Vanilla) or Hiroshi Iimura (of Jitensha Studio, since this is in the style of a classic Toei). If I could reach back through history for any builder, I'd say it'd have to be Watanabe.

Gruppo could vary, but would likely be simple, just 8-speed with bar-end shifters; I'm partial to Deore XT (M737 group) but also have a soft spot for RSX/ RX100; Shimano 105/5500 would also work; . The crankset would be troublesome; part of me would inclined toward Sugino, the other part toward Shimano; triple in either case. Brakeset would be Paul Touring cantis; Phil Wood BB; Nitto stem, bars, & seatpost; Brooks saddle, likely a Flyer Special. Wheelset would be built around sealed-bearing hubs, 36h; fantasy says Maxi-car, but reality says White. Maybe Phil. Rims could vary a lot since there are a fair number of very reliable 700c touring rims out there.

Spaghetti Legs 

Well to answer some of your questions:

Chrome lugs and chrome chain stays (both sides). chrome socks on the seat stays but not all the way up so as to set off the chrome seat cluster. Something like a British Racing Green for the paint. I'd be drawn to yellow accents, but that might look a little too John Deere-ish, so maybe metallic blue accents.

As for geometry I would go with something approaching my Merck Century or Colnago C40 (Master geometry) - not sure about tubeset. I swear though, every time I ride my C40 I think they could have stopped designing new bikes then.

Barrettscv 

I'd love to see a picture of it. :-)

Rcrxjlb

If money is no object, then i'd have Jesse James tig weld a titanium frame then gold plate it.
I'd use all Dura Ace parts on ; tired of seeing Campy parts on everything...

non-fixie 

So far I've been too happy with some of the second-hand off-the-peg offerings to warrant a custom build. I'd be really worried that my €2,000 frame wouldn't ride any better than my €40 Gitane Tour de France.

Having said that, I'm vain enough to want something with my name engraved in the BB shell by a legendary frame builder.

gugie 

What you're describing is highly personal - not in the sense the you wouldn't want to share it, but goals and inspirations are unique to the individual.

There's two ways of going about finding a framebuilder. One is to determine what type of bike you want and what you can afford, then find a framebuilder to match (not so difficult). If I had the patience and the money, that would be Peter Weigle. The other is to find a framebuilder who has shown an ability to take a client's goals and inspirations and deliver to it. For me, that would be Brian Chapman. I let their work speak to why.

That said, you can find a lot more framebuilders that can fit the bill.

As Richard Sachs once said, you're not buying a frame, you're buying the framebuilder.

nlerner

I'm very lucky to have local riding friends who have pursued both routes: Weigle and Chapman. In fact, one is working with Chapman now on a dream custom, what my friend describes as likely the last bike he'll ever buy/build up (he's 71).