Builder recommendations
 

If you were looking for a custom road frame, which builders would you look at to do it. The limits would be wait time must be something reasonable not two plus years. A good, steel chrome lugged road bike with nice paint, etc. Thoughts?

Tommasini?

wow, who still does chrome??

I bought a Waterford. Took 8 weeks.

Here it is on the Waterford web site http://waterfordbikes.com/now/modelthis.php?blobid=488

What about a Mariposa?

http://www.mariposabicycles.com They show chrome lug bikes.

Mariposa, often refered to as the last steel frame to win a World cup race:

http://www.bikespecialties.com/site/peloton4.html

http://www.dedebarry.com/

Mike Barry is no longer taking frame orders.

Nobody chromes lugs anymore, it's all about the polished stainless steel.

I'd get a Bohemian, personally. Daves' waitlist is under 12 months, which is still crazy, but survivable.

Longer waitlists are just there I think to make things appear more exclusive. Don't be sucked in by it.

Take at look at True North's bikes http://www.truenorthcycles.com/ . Hugh the builder will do polished lugs (has in the past) he is also a Mechanical Engineer so he knows his stuff. Wait time is not too bad.

not to twist your arm . . .

ciclipolito, ciclipolito.com

and yes, i still prep frames, lugs, and stems for chroming, and one of my display bikes at NAHBS this year had hand polished custom carved stainless lugs.

wait list is currently 4 months.

I have my name in the queue for 2 different bikes from 2 different builders. I did a lot of looking and talked to numerous builders before I decided on mine. There are a lot of very talented builders out there, talk with them, ask questions, make sure you feel comfortable with them, and you will find the right builder for your new bike.

http://www.vendettacycles.com/vendet...es/default.htm - For my ss/fixied gear commuter.
http://www.kirkframeworks.com/index.htm - For my road bike.

Check out http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/2008/ for a list of exhibitors from this years show. Hope this information helps.

John

i got a custom Wojcik made, he does lugs but i'm not sure if he'll do chrome you could go to his site and either call or email him www.tedwojcikcustombicycles.com. txracer, your waterford is very nice!! i love the Ferrari inspired lettering too!!

Gosh . . .

There are quite a few, and being a bit more specific might help narrow it down.

What's a reasonable time frame? One year? Six months?

Does it have to be lugged? Do the lugs have to be chromed? Do you have very unusual geometry needs that might require extensive modification of lugs?

Do you want to meet the builder in person? If so, where are you?

Do you prefer a more traditional look, or are you ready for some innovative new-school goodness?

And, most importantly . . . wait for it . . . what's your budget? ;)

As of right now, my own choice for the kind of bike you've described so far (minus chrome), would be Roland Della Santa.

Brent Steelman builds excellent bikes, and also gets top reviews for the way he treats people, including customers.

There are many reviews at http://www.roadbikereview.com/

(If you enter "Brent Steelman" in the search box, you can find a number of reviews.)

Mtbr.com also has reviews, to give some additional sense of what it is like to deal with Steelman (his real name BTW). I've found him to be impeccable.

One example:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Frameset...ct_46178.shtml

We have a local guy here in Indianapolis, Tim O'Donnell, who makes wonderful Irish themed bikes under the banner of Shamrock Cycles.

www.lugoftheirish.com

He does lugged and fillet brazed, using Columbus steel. He has a local painter, no powder coating.

geek

Yup, Bohemian. Also La Suprema @ edsbikes.us. Both located in Tuson, AZ

Where do you live? Its always nice to support a local builder.

Houston Texas. Not many builders here. Actually none that I am aware of.

In Austin, there is one builder, Moyer Cycles, but he is not taking orders and I'm not sure when he will start again. I spoke with him a few months ago. Builds great looking bikes. I hope he starts again.

Moyer makes some beautiful stuff, its not surprising that he is backed up. Didn't Don Walker just move to somewhere in texas? I may be completely wrong but I remember him moving somehwere.

Don moved to Indianapolis.

He was in Texas but moved to Indy. Don is a nice guy.

Southwest Frame Works is in Dallas. He painted Cuda2K's Serrota.

http://www.southwestframeworks.com/home%20page.htm

He also painted my gold bike

I love J.P. Weigle's work. But I have a feeling the waiting list is extensive and the frames expensive. I also don't think he has a website.

http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2007/cc...brooks407.html

I think that's one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen.