Comments on: Framebuilding: Subcontractors and Big Names

By: Marko

Marko — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:37:52 +0000

Gettin closer every day. The straigh-blade is sweet, no doubt. I’m thinking a chris king headset, external bb, drop my brooks saddle on there, and I’m good to go with everything else. I’m hoping they have a sale going into fall/winter. Maybe after interbike is done or something.

By: frank

frank — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:59:00 +0000

@Marko Do it. Love the contrast lugs and the straight-blade fork. Of course, steel isn't the best crappy-weather material given it's proclivity to corrosion, which is why I opted for the XL EV2 as my rain bike, but that's another topic altogether.

By: Marko

Marko — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:22:54 +0000

I’m looking into buying a steel Traitor Exile frame/fork and dropping my extra ultregra groupo onto it. I’d really like a steel crappy weather beat arounder.

By: frank

frank — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:10:48 +0000

@Marko You bring up a great point. There are more body types in the general public, but they are also less highly trained and much less sensitive to subtle changes. I bet "Pops" isn't very aware of his headtube angle and how it relates to cornering in the bunch on a mountain descent at 60 kmph. With that in mind, it's amazing to me the market for groups like Seven and IF and their apparent profitability in building custom frames for people. I've had several friends either lust after or actually buy such custom bikes. I always feel compelled to ask, "What, exactly, are you missing in a stock frame?" I rarely get a good answer (although sometimes I do). Professionally, 95% of the problems my company comes in to solve are problems caused when an organization applies a solution to a poorly understood problem. Part of me thinks the custom frame building market stems from exploiting that same situation in the cycling world. But it's cool as shit. I would buy a Rodriquez in a heartbeat, given the funding. In fact, I've thought about how to replace my Zip, should something happen to it; it would be fun to have them build a Zip Replica.

By: frank

frank — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:40:30 +0000

@brett Woah. I never heard of Baum. That is a beaty!

By: frank

frank — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:39:45 +0000

@Dan O Thanks. I love the steel. I don't ride it as much as my carbon, but during parts of the season, I ride it a lot. During those times, I fall in love and I start to wonder and think, why do I bother with expensive materials? Then I get on the R3 and I remember...Modern materials are here for a reason beyond fad, but the old adage is true: steel is real. The ride, the responsiveness, the road feel without jarring or jittering. I was down at R&E in Seattle and they had a 14 pound steel ride set up, so you can't say steel's drawback is weight! The idea of building up a classic (90's C-Record) steel is top of my list of "cool projects". Now I just need to win the lottery!

By: Marko

Marko — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:56:44 +0000

What I would give for a Pegoretti. Those are gorgeous.

So although varied, the range of body types in the pro peloton is nowhere near what it is in broader society. Just think if they made custom frames for everyone. What a pain in the butt. When I look at some of the boutique builders offering stock frames in 15 sizes and offering custom sizes as well I just think at some point you just need to adjust your own damn body, cockpit, cleats, seat, etc. Just get in the same section and row of the ballpark and ride the damn thing.

But then again I also take solice in the fact my newish Alan was handcrafted in Italy by someone who knew what the hell they were doing and it fits me darn well.

By: brett

brett — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:33:48 +0000

Nice post. Yeah, I must say I'd love to be able to afford a nice custom steel or Ti road bike. Maybe an Indy Fab, or these sweet Aussie machines from Baum. They are works of art.

By: Dan O

Dan O — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:52:16 +0000

Nice Bianchi. That era of bikes just looks “right” to me. The carbon stuff is cool – I own that also – but my old school roots still digs the steel frames.

With the current wave of carbon, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in steel frames as well. Lucky for us, there’s an army of smaller builders – who can make some nice steel bikes anyway you want it.

You just need the dough…..