Congratulations Pam,

Good to hear you're getting a custom bike! Can't wait to see it on the road.

Will this be the bike you ride on the famous Hicks Haul Road Time Trial?

My Mercian Vincitore is a custom (from '86) but I'm on the verge of getting another custom frame. Lots of money though . . . that bit has me stalled.

Rick / OCRR

Rick - I work the time trial - but riding the time trial, another matter! Have you done it? Will look for you!

I know two great custom bike builders... obviously John at Landshark is one and the other (if you like Ti) is Jim Kish... my good buddy has 3 Kishes... they are all beautiful!!! Works of art...

Thanks Pam,

I will check those out, but I'm leaning a lot toward a custom Calfee. I like the Calfee Tetra I have, but the fit is far from perfect . . . quite a bit off if I'm honest with myself. But I love the way the bike rides.

So I'm thinking either a Tetra or a Dragonfly (to my measurements) and "nude" as Calfee calls it, i.e. no color, just carbon fiber color. The difficult part remains parting with the cash. It's not like I have a lot stored up looking for a bike builder to send it to . . . (Craig Calfee remains my first choice for the moment).

And yes, I would like to ride the time trial! Sounds like fun to me. Just got an email from Jill Kahler about it too.

Rick / OCRR

I talked a friend into a Calfee several years ago (he bought 2 - one for his wife). He also went nude. Recently he had a bad accident and the frame had to be replaced. This time we went for the blue... he regretted that nude color and always liked the blue.

I'm assuming you are going through Hank's shop (Edge)?

And I definitely understand the cash thing which is why I waited so long... I'm still wondering why I am doing this!!!

So what Pink is the C.K.Headset? Bet its not the same as the colour of the roses.

Had this problem with the Tandem in that it is Blue with red accessories- lots of accessories in lots of shades of red.

So while you are getting the paint job done- think about supplying the builder with a couple (or 3) bottle cages if you want them to match perfectly. Or as you are wisely going with silver stem- bars- wheels Etc.- stay with silver cages.

And the only custom frame I ever had was nickel silver. Rustfree and scratch resistant so Never needed a touch up paint. But have to admit that Custom frame and build is comfortable. Just don't look at the cost.

Hi Pam,

Yes, my present Calfee Tetra is blue but the paint chips fairly easily (and I'm fairly clumsy), so that's why I'm going nude.

No, not Hank, but most likely directly with Craig since I'm a bike industry guy. If he insists that I go through a shop it will be Two Wheeler Dealer since that's the shop I usually deal with, and they're a Calfee dealer as well.

Now if I could just get beyond that cash thing . . . selling my present Calfee would be a step in the right direction!

Rick / OCRR

I decided for simplicity to go with everything silver - including the cages. Methinks I would get tired soon of too much color. My only quandrary now is what color bar tape. I don't think black or white will work...

Silver bar tape

Not to make this too OC thread... really Two Wheeler Dealer? The shop is not the same without Sam...

And I forgot you have a bicycle connection... I'm jealous!!!

Is there such thing? And if so, would the bike be too blingy???

True Pam,

Sam is a great guy and he and his wife are now happy in the boat business. Tim has some great people working for him, so it's still an excellent shop and I'm there fairly often. Like, uh, yesterday for example.

Rick / OCRR

OK I cleaned up the design, adjusted the color better - what do you think? I figure Blue bar tape will work best.

Congratulations Pam.

I have always been told by folks with custom bikes that you won't believe how it feels until you try it and have always taken this with a grain of salt. No longer.

I got my custom bike at the end of the season last year so haven't ridden it much yet. Last weekend I rode a metric century and it was incredible. I had no aches or pains what so ever! Contrast that with my aching back yesterday morning after I taking a short 20 miler to have coffee with friends on my trusty Norco cross bike.

I am a convert! Yes it is expensive but so is a tailor made suit compared with one off the rack.

My only advise as one who works with artists is to be open to what can happen in the creative process. John may not nail the "look" as you envision it but based on what I have seen of his work it will be stunning. View the painting as a collaborative process open to interpretation. Then go out and ride.

My two cents.

Ride safe

I like the blue tape. I also like the solid color chainstay. Maybe bottom 1/3 of seatstays solid, as well as the fork and headtube. It would be obviously custom without being too busy. What fun!!

It would be nice to find the bar tape before the base coat of paint goes on then the painter could get a close match to the tape. If you do go that route pick up extra tape so if you need to change the tape for any reason it would still match.

This is the problem I have already mentioned. Looking at your Design with the saddle and bar tape in blue- I think it looks too OCP. Would be OK if the colours matched the frame exactly- but that is where the problem may lie. Only my opinion mind you but some practability behind my thought aswell. Is your favourite saddle of choice done in Blue? That won't really matter as when you sit on the saddle- you can't see it. And Bar tape in any other colour than Black does not suit me. The black tape gets dirty quick enough- but you do have to look for the dirt.

The saddle is black - it's my favorite Terry butterfly. I think I was tired and just did the saddle blue because in the copy sent to the builder - the background is black and the saddle did not show. The builder is only responsible for the frame. I (and the shop) am responsible for putting the bike totally together. And yes really hate the OCP thing - which is why I want all the components to just be silver - no colored headsets etc.

The tape - I will have to deal - black will be fine no matter. I unusally do black because otherwise tape looks dirty and grimy. "Bontrager" blue works out fine as well.

As to working with he builder on the design - I want him to do his vision... this is only my suggestion. I am more concerned about the colors if nothing else. And I agree maybe less is more. I did originally have the flowers everywhere. Now I rather just have then around the head tube and seat post and leading the stays and most of the fork simple and clean. Again - I'll let the builder do what he thinks best.

Your input is invaluable. I am struggling through this entire process - I am excited at the prospect of a beautiful, unique custom bike but frustrating at the actual process!!!

But it is only money. You know how the commerical goes: "New helmet - $90. New chain - $60. New Sidi shoes - $300. New custom built, one-of-a-kind bike - priceless." I hope you enjoy it and eagerly await hearing all the details as it unfolds and you get your first season of riding in with it.