Custom or is there one already?
 

Hi,

After some years of trying and failing, searching and searching I give up, I can't find a frame that would fit me and my needs just right.

Has anyone in this world seen a frame that would have:

(really imporant)
* tall seat tube (58-65 cm)
* tall steering tube (22 cm +)
* short top tube (58-60 cm)
* small bottom bracket drop (3-5 cm)
* disc mount, inside the rear triangle
* fork and seat tube angle 72 - 73
* long chainstays (45 cm +)

(not so important)
* stand mounting plate (preferably central one)
* room for 700x47 rubber + fenders
* exchangeable derailleur hanger (like on aluminium frames)

I am 2 meters tall, 94 cm inseam, foot size 15-16, somewhat short arms etc. Tough luck finding a good frame.

Surly's Disc Trucker and most of the touring bikes are very nice, but have low BB. I have 205 mm long cranks and that creates a problem in turns. Salsa Fargo looks great but seat and head tube angles are too steep (71 deg). Singular Peregrine and many others are too small...

Can someone recommend a frame that would fit these requirements? Or a frame builder that can do the job for some 1000-1300USD (any country should be Ok).

Thanks,
m.

Look at Bruce Gordon's In House built touring bikes . they are above the Taiwan imports in price
but you get a bit more input on sizing.
for the current BLT,
He went to the same builders that make Surly stuff, but told them what He wanted,
so the rack fit is dialed in. [ but rim brakes]
Bruce is tall too, he will do right by you for fit.
I have used a set of Bruce's racks for 25 years, none better.

Cross bikes are higher BB, but lighter tubes so a load compromise.

Co Motion is a small Oregon shop, they do stock sizes and custom..
give them a look.

+1 on Co-Motion Cycles.

My wife's bike is a custom built Co-Motion Nor'west Tour. She has the opposite problem, being short and hard to fit. Small frames, like large frames, come with many challenges. The folks at Co-Motion are very knowledgeable, and worked with us to get what she wanted.

It may not hurt to call or e-mail them, and describe your specifications. It may not be possible to attain all of your desires, but they might have a good idea, even before they did the measurements what is possible.

We live about 45 minutes from their shop,and we had a lot of interaction with them while the frame was being built. Their work is excellent, and they really want you to be happy with the bike.

Is my wife happy? She'd would probably give me up before she'd part with that bike!

That sounds like a technique problem as much as anything. If you're going around a turn with lots of lean angle, you should be coasting with the inside pedal at the 12 o'clock position and the outside pedal at 6 o'clock... Once the bike is back upright, you can begin pedaling again.

Co-Motion is NOT a small shop!
It is a state-of-the art framebuilding facility in Eugene, OR.
While they did start up as 3 guys building in a garage they now have one of the best facilities in the USA.
They build tandems/singles ready-made or full custom.
We rode a custom Co-Motion tandem back in the early 90s and put 57,000 miles on it.
Quality pays off in the long run!
Just our input.
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

I was thinking of Merida and Giant , 2 of Taiwan's Contract manufacturers ,
that make bikes under dozens of brands for export, as Large..

so it's all Relative..

I would check these guys out for sure:

• R+E Cycles
• Phone - (206)527-0360
• Email sales@rodcycle.com
• 5627 University Way NE
  Seattle, WA 98105

They have a great facility. They're much smaller than Co-Motion, but are probably better equipped to get the fit right. They struck me as more experienced and analytical. Also, their prices, at least for the custom tandem they are going to build me, seem unexpectedly low.

Don't forget to get adequate heel clearance in whatever you have built. Considering how high your bottom bracket will be and the length of your cranks and feet, you're going to need to deal with that. I also have size 16 feet, but I use much shorter cranks and tour in road shoes, so I don't need as much clearance as you will.

Thanks for the suggestions. I always thought Rodriguez and Co-motion have quite a high price tag, but I willl give'em a try. Does a smaller frame building place mean it can be a bit cheaper? Any more suggestions? After the birth of my twins I am on quite a low budget. Bruce G. sounds good, his monster tourer is awesome!

@sstorkel: thanks, yes, I used to do that when I had a 26" frame, its BB would be same low. That's not a solution for bumpy roads and overall much less fun. I still have it in mind though, "left turn - left foot up!"...

Small shop does not mean cheaper, newbie can mean cheaper. Small shops are occupied by some of the best makers out there. There are also small shops that have just about anything you need technology wise. Big shops either mean cheap real estate, or big production aims. Normally.

Your list does yell custom aside from the odd thing they might not want to do. Tall yells custom to start with. My personal preference is not really for discs, and particularly not rear, discs, they weight a lot, get in the way, and don't really pull their weight. Front disc is another mater.

If you are price sensitive, you may want to look locally since shipping can be a big part of it. Naked, Coconicco, used to have reasonable frames + huge reps. There are some new names being bandied about on here, like Seiner. I would also look at Arvon, he does nice large bikes, though I found it hard to get a call back from them.

Apart from the disc mounts I think a Miyata One Thousand, 63cm bike may fit the bill. They were made early 80's to mid 90's (?) and are still considered by many as the best off-the-peg touring bike ever made.

Check out C&V. People still rave about them :)

I work with Arvon Cycles... we are about as small as a shop can be but have been doing this for over 30 years and by we I mean Arvon as I am still the new guy.

Feel free to send me a PM or send an e-mail... arvon1@hotmail.com

We have no phone or internet in the frame shop so messages will usually get returned in the evening or the next morning.

We can't afford a receptionist and when the torch is fired up you don't stop to answer the phone anyways.

:)

Arvon World Tour

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ldtourist1.JPG

Don't know what their price structure is like, but you might look into Bilenky in Philadelphia.

Hi,
I'm a frame builder in Tucson, AZ, and could build you a nice touring frame that fits your requirements and within your price range. Check us out at www.ravellobikes.com.

Brian

If you opt for custom, try to go with a local builder. A builder can learn a lot about what you want and need by eyeballing you. My builder asked me to come to his shop with my existing bike. He watched me ride, adjusted the fit, and watched me ride again before we began serious discussions.

I simply love Bike Forums, so many replies in no time! Thank you all.

@MassiveD: I used to run disc/v-brake combo, but during our winters you get to clean a lot of slush from the brake pads just too often. Plus now I nearly always ride with my two kids, that means too many kilos in the rear. It's very comforting to know you have reliable brakes descending from the hill on a wet day.

Apparently there is no suitable production frame, so I will probably go the custom way.

Going local is always the best option as then you can work more closely with the builder... we do have customers all over the world but in most cases these were experienced riders who were very knowledgeable about what their needs were.

mihalit - Would question your need for running such long cranks as although you have a longer than average inseam you are not ready for the NBA and know many with similar builds who ride standard cranks with no issues.

The World Tour I showed is a design we are best known for and most of our custom single bicycles feature this... it provides a better centre of balance, gives more than enough foot clearance when panniers are loaded, and provides for very stable handling at all speeds.

Arvon is a big guy and understands the needs of larger riders very well and we do sell frames and forks as well as complete bicycles which can also include custom made hubs and wheels.

Sixty Fiver,

I just can't go back to "regular" crank length anymore, it feels very awkward now with 175mm cranks. Although they say additional leverage is not so important on the geared bikes, sometimes I had just not enough of gears to climb a hill, too much weight, i ride for three people + food and caping gear :) Now i consistently ride comfortably two gears higher and quick speeding up is quite easier too, it even makes my rides safer.

I tend to think that crank length importance is normally overlooked. For me it's the first step to getting a right fit. I am definitely not NBA ready, but did play for our University team some years ago. :)

Those World Tour chainstays look impressive! What is their length? I want to stick to those that would be on the edge of "normal", like 47 cm. I don't carry too much stuff, and too long wheelbase would add me problems on the local trains, train stations and airlines. I live in Norther Germany, and one has to use trains a lot here, unless he admires endless farm fields landscape..