DRLski

I'm looking into possibly buying a custom steel frame during this winter for next year and was wondering which companies you recommend, I know a few but have no idea what the advantages of one over the other are, here are a few that I'm currently looking at:

Rock Lobster
Independent Fabrications
Ted Wojcik

I'm even tempted to get a titanium frame such as a Seven or Serotta but I will mostly only be using this bike for training and longer rides/races (yes I will be racing with it occassionaly but have other bikes for races) so I think comfort is my biggest concern without any loss in power/speed. Weight isn't a HUGE concern for me but I don't want it extremely heavy.

Price range for a frameset is $1000-$1500 so I'm trying not to break the bank however I want the bike to last forever I want something of good quality.

Grasschopper

Serotta does custom steel as well as Ti. Someone will say Waterford for sure.

Little Darwin

Rich Adams does some sweet steel frames, and affordable for a custom builder:

https://www.bicycleframes.com/

HAMMER MAN

well of course, Waterford for sure

here is a list of some fine builders

Builder Website

Joseph Ahearne ahearnecycles.com
Ahrens Bicycles ahrensbicycles.com
ANT (Mike Flanigan) antbikemike.com
Bohemian Bicycles bohemianbicycles.com
Calfee Design calfeedesign.com
Castellano Design castellanodesigns.com
Charter Oak Cycling billriderbicycles.com
Cloud Nine Design cloudnine-design.com
Coconino Cycles coconinocycles.com
Crumpton Cycles crumptoncycles.com
Della Santa dellasanta.com
Desalvo Custom Cycles desalvocycles.com
Don Walker Cycles donwalkercycles.com
Echelon Cycle Works echeloncycleworks.com
Engin Cycles engincycles.com
Grognard Bicycle Co. grognardbikeco.com
Igle Cycles Igle Cycles Link
Independent Fabrication ifbikes.com
Jonny Cycles jonnycycles.com
Keith Anderson Cycles keithandersoncycles.com
Kent Eriksen kenteriksen.com
Kirk Frameworks kirkframeworks.com
Kish Fabrication kishbike.com
Moyer Cycles moyercycles.com
Nelson Titanium Products ntpbikes.com
Oswald Cycle Works oswaldcycleworks.com
Patrick Cycles patrickcycles.com
Peacock Groove Cycles peacockgroove.com
Pereira Cycles pereiracycles.com
Rebolledo Cycles rebolledocycles.com
Retrotec ingliscycles.com
Rex Cycles rexcycles.com
Richard Sachs Cycles richardsachs.com
Rock Lobster rocklobstercycles.com
Roark Titanium roarktitanium.com
Rue Sports ruesports.com
Sadilah Cycles sadilah.com
Soulcraft Bicycles soulcraftbikes.com
Steve Potts stevepottsbicycles.com
Strong Frames strongframes.com
Summersett Custom Bicycles summersettbikes.com
Thursday Bicycles thursdaybicycles.com
Townsend Cycles website coming soon...
Vendetta Cycles vendettacycles.com
Vicious Cycles viciouscycles.com
Vintage Cycle Studio Vintage Cycle Studio Link
Waterford Precision Cycles waterfordbikes.com
Wolfhound Cycles wolfhoundcycles.com

DRLski

How on earth am I ever supposed to choose who I want to build my frame??? Too many to choose from

HAMMER MAN

$1500.00
Waterford have a lugged frame and since I am prejudice, I love it. also you can get a compact in steel for around $1375.00
I.F. Had one and sold it, a very good bike
Steelman.good things
Serotta .bikes also
Strong. hear good things also

HAMMER MAN

find a builder that is a close proximity to where you live or pick a few and call them and discuss what you would be interested in and get a feel for what they offer and talk about to you, concerning your ride desires.

Since I got to befuddle your mind Guru also makes a real nice steel frame

billallbritten

Vendetta Bicycles, cool name. I wonder if they make a Rollo style horn that looks like Guy Fawkes or a bald Natalie Portman.

Seriously, some beautiful machines in that list.

DRLski

That's why I was thinking about Indy Fab or Ted Wojcik, they're only like 20 miles from my house.

marqueemoon

I guess it depends on what options you want. If it were me I would probably go for a Lyon or spend a little more for a lugged Mercian and get something with fender eyelets that takes long reach brakes. ANT (in the Boston area) makes some very nice looking no-nonsense road frames too but too rich for my blood.

I think IF would be a good choice for resale value, but what is the point of getting a custom frame if you're going to sell it? At any rate you're pushing it if you're waiting until September to order a "winter bike".

CrimsonKarter21

www.jonnycycles.com

Their bikes are absolutely beautiful, but if I could choose, I'd tell you to get a fillet brazed frame, they're just so damn sexy!

HAMMER MAN

My I.F. was an exceptional build when it came to construction, but the problem was they did not make it to my specs. It was based on a touring frame geometry. It did not handle the way I expected and could never get comfortable on it.
If you go to the paint area and look up fades, paint gallery and scroll down it was the one painted in fade of green to silver, thier craftsmanship is outstanding, just make sure you get excatly what you order

DRLski

how long does it take to build a frame? I figured I'd have it for the winter to build up and have it ready for spring

HAMMER MAN

most custom builders take 4-8 weeks.
They could possibly have a stock in what you want.

marqueemoon

Take the builder's estimate and double it

redfooj

I like Sachs but too long and too expensive. Avil is cool but also expensive and dont know if he even still builds. Kirk is cool but also expensive. Sycip still makes some nice ones, though

dogpound

if you're close to IF go visit them.
I had a wonderful experience with them and now have 2.

linux_author

- i about choked on my lip full of dip when i saw Bicycling's 'advertorial' review of a Seven Axiom Steel bike for $4,600...

- give me a break! this is INSANE folks!

uga8589

What about Bilenky?
bilenky.com

TacoPropelled

eisentraut.
steelman.
mikkelsen.

della santa is awesome.

lrzipris

This makes a great deal of sense if you are going custom. It's one significant reason why I went with Tom Kellogg (Spectrum). To complement the science--the measurements--there's the art, and there's no substitute for the builder looking at you and your present bike. Tom had me on a trainer for about 45 minutes, while he took measurements and made adjustments.

Scooped

Guru I bought mine from a dealer (my LBS) with some upgrades and custom paint. They have stock sizes and custom. Now they sell direct
https://www.gurubikes.com

Lithuania

https://www.mintcycles.com/

I currently have two s3 steel bikes from them and love them.

you can see them both on the site. Mine are the light blue road bike and maroon mountain bike.

lilscotboy

i have to second two recommendations here

guru

my trilite traithlon frame is truly astounding, well priced and handmade in NA (well montreal, but that does count)

and at the other end of the spectrum

jonnycycles

Jon Kendziera is an awesome frame builder, incredibly talented, but luckily new to the scene so his one off hand made creations are still very reasonably priced.

I had Jon build my fiancee a track frame last year, hand carved kalavinka lugs, carved BB, dedaccai tubeset. All i can say is that this is the most beautiful bike i have ever seen, so clean to the eye and it rides like a rocket https://www.jonnycycles.com/images/0020%20023.jpg and to top it all Jon won best track bike at the handmade bike show this year....he's up there with sasha at vanilla IMHO

55/Rad

I can't believe this thread got all the way to 20+ posts with dozens of recommendations and no one mentioned Vanilla.

https://www.vanillabicycles.com/

55/Rad