I'm moving towards getting a custom built frame and am strongly considering a Hetchins. Everything I hear about Hetchins focuses on their beauty and workmanship...you don't hear much about the ride quality. Have any of you ridden one? How is the ride? If it's just beautiful, I'd probably be better off going in a different direction.

I can't tell you anything about the modern Hetchins bikes, but my 1974 Hetchins, built by Mr. Denny, rides wonderfully and has very crisp steering. It is my favorite riding bike.

Get it built they way you wish, from your stable I am sure you have a favorite, use that for the geometry. As inferred earlier, the modern Hetchins is a brand and a style, other than that you could borrow geometry from an older frame.

If I wanted a modern Hetchins, I would have Brian Baylis build one, he has made a few that are better than the originals

I agree about the Baylis built Hetchins. It might cost you a pretty penny but it would be worth it. The new Hetchins company is nowhere near as sophisticated as the original company. If you can afford to buy a bicycle on the Hetchins level then you have tons of options.

If I were you...I would do some homework and find a custom builder in the area. It's much better to work directly with the frame builder before getting the bike.

Oddly enough, the Hetchins customs are FAR less expensive (about half) of what my local builders (Bilenky/Spectrum) charge. Cost was actually one of the attractive features...which I frankly do not understand.

If I'm reading this correctly, you folks are saying the Brian Miller Hetchins are not on par with the classics and I'd be better off going another direction.

If the better Bob Jackson builders are making Hetchins' these days, you'll get a great and distinctive bicycle. My '54 has very good road manners, but I haven't really pushed it hard because of the brakes I had on it. It doesn't handle like a crit bike, but it's not as ponderous as some other bikes I've had with a similarly lengthy wheelbase either.