This is a 20 minute ride from my house....https://www.spectrum-cycles.com/23.htm

For once I'm glad I'm poor He has some cool looking bikes

My dad's primary ride is a 1990 Spectrum titanium road bike - it is one awesome bike.

You save on shipping!

I keep forgetting he is still up there. great bikes. IIRC he was big pioneer in Ti building back when. do they give tours?

I want to get up to the track this summer and watch the races. a factory tour there would be an excellent addition

PS one of the gentlemen I used ride with alot had an interesting Spectrum. it was of course a custom geomentry and normal roadbike style (horizontal TT) but the headtube was extended up about 4-5" to allow him a more upright position because of his bad back.

A buddy of mine has a Spectrum titanium and his father owns something like 10 Spectrum customs. Tom Kellog was heavily involved with Merlin (my Merlin's geometry was designed by Kellog) and his bikes are still built by Merlin. I've spoken with him on the phone a few times and he's a heck of a nice guy.

Honestly, unless the Spectrum is custom built for you, it's no different than a Merlin made bike. Actually, I'd argue that a standard Merlin geometry bike is more likely to fit than a custom built for someone else (and it will be a LOT cheaper).

I have the same temptation with having Bilenky 4 miles away. Spectrum is pretty close by and if you like that sort of thing, we also have Harry Havnoonian. It's a good area for customs!

I had no idea that there were ANY custom frame builders in this area. I guess my experience w/ air cooled VW's carried over to bikes. There are almost NO custom parts shops for air cooled bugs in this area. Maybe if I sell every bike I own, maybe I could get close to affording one.... nah. Still cool none the less.

Kind of OT, my wife and I are planning to go to a few races this summer, perhaps we could have a "gathering"?

I'd like to watch some races at the Velodrome, too, or even go there on one of their 'open' nights to ride the track.

There's also Rich Adams in Wilkes-Barre. Not quite the experience and history of Kellogg, but it's reflected in his pricing: https://bicycleframes.com/

I would definitely be interested in going up and seeing a race...but I'd need a ride (would gladly chip in for gas). Paging Fender and Scott!

There's another PA frame builder I've heard good things about called Oswald Cycles, but I think he's nearer Pittsburgh.

Spectrum is a great place. Not only for custom frame building but for frame repairs and painting as well. Their frame repair prices are very reasonable.

Watching races on the velodrome would be cool

also there is Bishop just down the road in Baltimore. he was tempting me a few months ago with a custom frame built from that 'crimped' Alle tubing like my Cornelo

I'm really thinking it's time to get a custom...it's just so damned expensive, and my measurements are fairly standard/don't really justify it. I was looking into a new Hetchins, and a brand new custom Magnum Opus with curly stays is about $1500...not counting any chrome bits. That seems awfully damned reasonable when even unknown local frame guys want $2,000. I have another member who may be helping me find my custom love in Italy...and that's probably my ideal fantasy frame.

Martin guitar offers a class on guitar building through one of the local community colleges for either 1800 or 2200. It s a 10 day course, you start with a pile of wood and end up with your own hand made Martin acoustic. Considering most Martins start @ 1,100 (for a mainly wood w/ some composite pieces) and their D-18 (think early Bob Dylan) starts around 1800, it's not a bad deal. If I had the cash, I'd almost be tempted to make (or find a frame builder offering classes) and make my own frame. Pipe dreams.... gotta love 'em.

Lets try to figure out a date this summer for a potential meet up @ the Velodrome

When I figure out whether or not my Free Spirit fork is bent or not, maybe he can fix it for me. That sounds funny, Tom Kellog fixing a Free Spirit

Here is one from Spectrum for the C&V faithful.....

https://www.spectrum-cycles.com/image...Pages/fp30.htm

There's also Peter Dreesens in Schwenksville. He does beautiful work.

Interestingly enough, I went to my LBS this afternoon to pick up some toe straps and place an order for some goodies, and they had a blue Rich Adams bike on a repair stand. Fillet brazed frame with very nice tapered chainstays. Looks like he is doing very nice work.