Custom Lugged Frame
 

I'm treating myself to a new all-around-ish road bike, and I wanted some advice. I like the design and philosophy behind the Rivendell Atlantis frames (www.rivendellbicycles.com). But, having a custom sized frame really appeals to me. Are there any framebuilders that offer a custom lugged (this is important to me) frame in the $1000-$1200 range?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Arguably the best lugged frames you can get.
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/

However there are many many frame bulders that will do a custom lugged frame. Do a Google search for lugged steel road frames.

Henry James, who makes the lugs used by many custom frame builders, including Waterford, has a listing on his website of all the custom builders who use his lugs. There are a more than 100 listed. There are probably that many more that do not make his website list.

$1200 for a custom lugged frame is at the very bottom of anything I have seen listed over the past year of my looking at same. The best I have found for around this price has been www.HHRacingGroup.com In my discussions with them they will build out of most any tubing you want for about $1400, including a fork. They also have some really fancy lugs cut in the form of a Fluer d'Lis (spelling). Can do some stunning paintwork around this type of lug. Or, you can choose stainless lugs which polish up every so nicely. And they have an excellent rep.

Serotta will also do custom lugged CSI frames. But are normally listed at $1695, unless you can get a deal from your LBS. But there are many to choose from. Even Lennard Zinn is building the occasional custom lugged frame.

You can also go to a week long framebuilding school in Oregon and build your own lugged frame as part of the school. You can't get any more custom than that. How many other SoylentJosh frames will you see around?

Enjoy!!

I'm with hunter on this one, though your price range will limit your selection.

I agree with Hunter and Paramount on this as well as the Atlantis your considering. So take a look at the offerings and see which bike would make you the happiest...you won't go wrong with any of them, so don't fret about that!

Well I don't know about that. . .
I'd say Richard Sachs for best lugged frame
(although a good deal more than $1200).

Check out Vanilla bikes (not sure of web site)
they are fairly new but very nice frames and not
extremely expensive.
Richard Moon, J.P. Weigle, and Heron also produce
lugged custom fit bikes.
Here's a kicker, you can get a custom fit
TIG'd Eisentraut for 1350, 1800 for either fillet brazed
or lugged.
If there is a grandaddy of modern US framebuilders
Albert is unquestionably it.

Marty

I'd also look at the S&S Machine website--they make couplers for collapsible frames--for a very comprehensive framebuidlers' list. At your price range, look up Rolland Della Santa in Reno, NV.

One friend of mine was really dissapointed when he went to buy a new Mercian bike. The guys told him that a stock geometry would fit in perfectly. All he had to do was specify the braze-ons and paint job. He was so looking forward to the whole custom fitiing thing.
It should be possible to get a quality lugged frame for your price, but not from one of the big-name builders like Richard Sachs.
Henryjames should be your first port of call for builders. Check out Marinoni for some good value frames.

Brands do not matter. I am sure a small 'garage shop' builder can build an excellent frame as well.

Just make sure you get the dimensions you want. Some builders tend to push customers in their mentallity thus making you a custom bike you may hate. I see this happen.

Just tell them what you want and the tubeset you want and they will build. They may make tubeset recommendations according to their beliefs. So you need to be open minded.

All in all as long as you get the dimensions you want you will be happy.

I've been riding a Heron Touring for a year. It's a production built frame at the Waterford plant. Quality lugged steel. Great ride.

Frame w/ fork $1045

Complete bike $1750

Friend of mine who has ridden a Rivendell since 1996 said my Heron rides and feels a lot like his Rivendell.

Check it out, I'm very happy with mine. (Bought one for my wife too)

Heron Bicycles

I'm having a bike built by Tom Oswald http://www.oswaldcycleworks.com/ Bear in mind a custom frame is just that, a custom. Built to whatever specs you need. When you order a custom, you will spend quite a bit of your time relating your needs, wants and desires to the builder. However, most good builders like Oswald, Sachs, Vanilla, Eisentraut, Della Santa and the like have huge lead times now, ranging from six months to almost two years.

If you truly want a custom made bike, open up your budget a little more, get professionally fitted and be prepared to wait.

Bikes like the Rivendell models and the Herons are not 'normal' bikes. They are more in the touring or Audax type category. They are heavier, a little slower handling, but tough as nails and can accommodate much larger tires. The Riv Atlantis is often thought of as a station wagon. Be advised the Riv bikes can be a little 'quirky' as to what fits on them. They have their own niche in the marketplace. This is not to denigrate the Rivs or Heron bikes, just that they are a little 'different' than the norm. That can be good.

What do mean?

What is the "norm"? I don’t think you’re referring to the bike, but the Grant Petersen/Rivendell philosophy; comfort, function, wool jerseys, leather saddles, lugged steel, threaded stems at saddle height, etc…

I'd be surprised if you were referring to the bikes, because the Oswalds seem to be a fine quality lugged steel frame, hand built by craftsman similar to the Riv and Waterford. Didn't spend too much time on Oswalds site, but did see they offer road and touring geometries. Went with the Heron because like the Riv and Waterford, a custom hand built lugged stell frame was out of my price range. Decided on the Heron over the Atlantis because the Heron is made in US at the Waterford plant, and the Atl. isn't.


:)

Ted