Paul And Pista

So I'm in a situation where I put a deposit on a custom track bike, that's on target to be finished somewhere around 8 or 9 months later than the builder predicted. The bike is about 70% built, I think. Anyway somewhere in those 8 or 9 months with moving and starting to commute by bike, my bike priorities changed a bit, and now I'm not certain that I really need a custom track bike. What's more is I'm having some doubts about the fit of the bike. It sounds like it might actually be a bit too large for me.

What do you think I can do in the situation? Just finish the build and put the bike up on eBay? I'm not sure I'll be able to find someone to pay what I did for the bike. Or do you think I can work something out with the builder? Any suggestions? I'm feeling all kinds of guilty for even ordering the bike now. I suppose this isn't much of a hypothetical.

Tangsooyuk

maybe try to work out some sort of a discount based on the extra time it took to build. 8-9 months is a very significant ammount of time so you could easily make an argument for it, that is unless its due to something you did or some an unforeseen event in their life. unless its huge Im sure you can get a pretty good fit on it and if its cheaper you wont take as big of a hit if you want to resell.

SCARFACE

I can see that tastes change form time to time, but remember that bike are tools. Adding a track bike to your stable will enhance your ability to deal with different jobs that you encounter.

vinnydelnegro

compare the amount you would loose on the deposit versus how much less you could sell it for. if it's around a medium size and is made by a well known builder, you may not loose that much...after all, you may find someone that it fits that wants one now instead of a year from now. i wouldn't build it up if you're going to sell it. seems like frames sell for more if they haven't had anything mounted. that my 2 cents, but i don't have direct experience.

trons

what builder, if you dont mind me asking?

sers

why do you think that it's going to be too large for you? how were you measured? i'm not sure how responsible a builder is for fit when he's provided with inaccurate measurements - but if he measured you, it should fit. one of the framebuilders here will likely chime in about the logistics of reconfiguring a frame that's mostly built up.

if it's just buyer's remorse, or that you can't afford it anymore then you have to decide whether it's going to be cheaper to eat all or most of the deposit, or to sell it at a potential loss on ebay.

Red Riding Hood

His needs have changed, not his tastes. He's not a messenger, and it would be impractical to ride an expensive track bike and expensive road bike everyday to work, rather than a good commuter, which he doesn't have. He has a $2000 road bike and a Pista that isn't great for commuting.

It's a shame, the bike would be really hot, but it's not what he wants anymore, and definitely not what he needs.

ryand

So in other words, its a situation, not a hypothetical...

Red Riding Hood

He got fit for his custom bike by one person, and he got fit for a road bike that he bought by another, and his measurements differ slightly from one to the other. He's pretty comfy on his road bike, and I think he is worried about the geometry and fit of his track bike, whether it will be comfortable for him in everyday use. I agree with your point, but I think the size/geometry may differ from his road bike obviously because they are meant to have different geometry. Really, he is second guessing his need for this bike, and trying not to lose too much money on it.

Red Riding Hood

"I suppose this isn't much of a hypothetical."

Um, yes.

carleton

Sounds like you have 2 main issues:

1) The builder is 9 months behind schedule. WTF? Is the guy in jail or something? We aren't construciting an office building. Why a 9 month delay on a bike that is 70% done?

(If I were a betting man, I'd bet that little or no work has been done on your bike.)

2) It seems that you don't want the bike.


Because of point #1, you have grounds to ask for your money back because the bike wasn't complete in a reasonable amount of time. Whether this will really happen is another story.

Good luck

rustang

i need a publicist too.

marqueemoon

I would just have the frame tweaked a little to make it a little better suited to commuting. Assuming there is not massive toe overlap and zero tire clearance have some fender eyelets brazed on and maybe cable guides/drillings for front and rear brake.

Red Riding Hood

haha, or a partner in crime...

Paul And Pista

Okay, Red Riding Hood managed to field most of those questions while I was working. But for some others:

I don't want to mention the builder because I don't want to "out" him when I haven't even talked to him about the situation yet, and also because he didn't really do anything wrong (he never promised to have the bike done by March, he just said it should be).

I'm guessing I'm going to end up with about a fist's worth of seatpost, but maybe I can get a photo of the bike to have a better idea. I think some of the rear triangle and fork are all that's left to be done. The top tube might also end up just a bit long. I know I can fix these things, but I didn't really have kludges in mind when I went custom. In any case, I think I just need to call him and see what we can do.

Red Riding Hood

The builder said he was busier than expected because of the handmade bike show, so I'm curious... Did you get that behind because of it? He ordered it last November and the builder said it should be done by April, claiming it was his slow season. The builder ALSO runs a bike shop with someone, so that could be it too. Still, I can't believe that he was so off.

rustang

sometimes i can get 9 months behind on things too...grocery shopping, laundry, etc. **** happens, ya know?

ryand

my old roommate got about 9 month behind on doing his dishes one time. it got me really angry. then one day i came home and there were dishes in his bed. thats when i knew he had gone too far. this IS a true story, i know usually i say things that are meant to make people laugh, but the kid really had dishes in his bed.

hyperRevue

Oh, the story would have been better if you were so fed up, you threw all his dirty dishes into his bed.

Tell it like that, from now on.

ryand

Yeah, and then I found $1000.

rustang

i've done that before.
and then when it didnt work, i threw away all the dishes and silverware, save for one set for each of us. we no longer had a sink full of dirty dishes.
we also no longer had dinner parties.

dutret

He decided that other things were more important to him then building your bike in a timely fashion. It's cool if he wants to create show peices for a show or whatever but while he was shifting his priorities away from building your bike yours shifted away from buying it. If you don't want the bike anymore tell him asap and see what he can do with reconfiguring it or canceling it. You should not feel obligated to let him keep anything more then the deposit and probably demand at least some of it back.

When did you order it? Did it change from like a two month wait to nine or was this like a 9 month wait originally?

Incidentally this is why I think custom bikes are illsuited to the vast majority of cyclist. If you haven't been riding long enough to know what fits you and how you feel about different geometries a custom bike won't be that much better then an off the rack one.

Learn_not2burn

One of my roommates was insanely messy. My other friends and I made a giant sheet out of duck tape and put everything he owned and all the trash he made on it. I mean everything too, clothes, his Xbox, TV, motorcycle helmet, keys to his car, dirty pots and pans, empty bottles, ****ing everything. Then we wrapped that ***** in 75 bucks worth of duck tape. The kid is so messy that he never even unwrapped the ball. He cut a couple holes in it, and whenever he'd need something, he'd just rummage around inside it until he could find it.

On the actual topic, you are on the right track, talk to the builder. I'm sure you will get something worked out.

coelcanth

im confused by something..
how long has the builder actually been building your specific frame ?
i was under the impression that once started, a frame is usually done pretty fast (not including painting)
isnt the wait time just him building the frames that are on line ahead of you ?
if it's 70% done, it's probably going to be finished by tomorrow!

Paul And Pista

He supposedly builds bikes in small batches somehow, and he started building it late last year. The frame has been on hold since early March, as far as I know.