Decision made, I am going to treat myself to a custom built steel touring frame. It will probably be the last one I shall purchase and cost is of secondary importance to having a top notch frame. Who should I get to build it that is the dilemma? Possibilities are:
Robin Mather
Dave Yates
Mercian
Ellis Biggs
Argos
Or other suggestions.
Advice and reasons for the choice would be very welcome.
Who should build my new frame?
-
bikepacker
- Posts: 2275
- Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 7:08pm
- Location: Worcestershire
- Contact:
Who should build my new frame?
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
Re: Who should build my new frame?
mercian are the class act by reputation as you no doubt already know.
i would toss another name into the ring - brian rourke. have had 2 frames measured by him (the first by paul washington, the second by his son jason) and they are impeccable. add to that the fact that a visit to his shop is an unrushed, methodical affair and is very much a customer based affair and you're on to a winner. i will treasure my frames for as long as i'm still riding.
enjoy the choice anyway!
i would toss another name into the ring - brian rourke. have had 2 frames measured by him (the first by paul washington, the second by his son jason) and they are impeccable. add to that the fact that a visit to his shop is an unrushed, methodical affair and is very much a customer based affair and you're on to a winner. i will treasure my frames for as long as i'm still riding.
enjoy the choice anyway!
Re: Who should build my new frame?
May i ask,why does it have to be made to measure?
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
-
bikepacker
- Posts: 2275
- Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 7:08pm
- Location: Worcestershire
- Contact:
Re: Who should build my new frame?
I have a couple of frames that I have had adaptions to compensate for posture and postition, I would like these incorporating into any new frame. Other reason is the pure indulgence of owning a one off.
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
-
bikepacker
- Posts: 2275
- Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 7:08pm
- Location: Worcestershire
- Contact:
Re: Who should build my new frame?
mig wrote:mercian are the class act by reputation as you no doubt already know.
i would toss another name into the ring - brian rourke. have had 2 frames measured by him (the first by paul washington, the second by his son jason) and they are impeccable. add to that the fact that a visit to his shop is an unrushed, methodical affair and is very much a customer based affair and you're on to a winner. i will treasure my frames for as long as i'm still riding.
enjoy the choice anyway!
I had considered Brian but he does not do custom made steel forks on any of his bikes.
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
Re: Who should build my new frame?
really? 
that must be a recent thing - i've got 2 sets!
that must be a recent thing - i've got 2 sets!
Re: Who should build my new frame?
Roberts?
cheers
cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: Who should build my new frame?
Justin Burls does a nice line in steel frames (& Russian-built custom Ti too)
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
-
bikepacker
- Posts: 2275
- Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 7:08pm
- Location: Worcestershire
- Contact:
Re: Who should build my new frame?
While I appreciate the suggestions and will look into them, it would be nice to have the reasons behind your recommendations.
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
Re: Who should build my new frame?
every Roberts frame I have ever seen has been impeccably built and beautifully finished. I would say that it is a very good place to go if you want something that is a bit different;for example I've seen a lot of framesets for petite ladies done well by Roberts, as well as larger frames.
Cheap they ain't, I grant you. But they are good.
I've owned mine for nearly thirty years now. They say the quality remains long after the price is forgotten; it could be true!
cheers
Cheap they ain't, I grant you. But they are good.
I've owned mine for nearly thirty years now. They say the quality remains long after the price is forgotten; it could be true!
cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: Who should build my new frame?
Steve Shand?
If I was commissioning a 'money no object' touring frame, though, I'd go to Robin Mather or Dave Yates on the grounds that my frame would be more likely to be built by The Man Himself than if it came from Mercian or Roberts, finally decide on Dave Yates, and spend the difference between £1600ish and £900ish on beer. I'd think about having the painting done by Roberts, Mercian, Argos or Mario Vaz, if gorgeousness of finish is an overwhelmingly important consideration.
Actually, I don't think you will go wrong with a frame from any of the established builders, especially those with a reputation for tourers - again, for me, that would give Dave Yates the nod.
If I was commissioning a 'money no object' touring frame, though, I'd go to Robin Mather or Dave Yates on the grounds that my frame would be more likely to be built by The Man Himself than if it came from Mercian or Roberts, finally decide on Dave Yates, and spend the difference between £1600ish and £900ish on beer. I'd think about having the painting done by Roberts, Mercian, Argos or Mario Vaz, if gorgeousness of finish is an overwhelmingly important consideration.
Actually, I don't think you will go wrong with a frame from any of the established builders, especially those with a reputation for tourers - again, for me, that would give Dave Yates the nod.
Re: Who should build my new frame?
I wouldn't bother with Argos. Some of their flat pack furniture is ok, but I wouldn't trust them with a welding kit and steel pipes.
sorry, couldn't help myself
sorry, couldn't help myself
Bill
“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” ~ Eddy Merckx
It's a rich man whos children run to him when his pockets are empty.
“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” ~ Eddy Merckx
It's a rich man whos children run to him when his pockets are empty.
Re: Who should build my new frame?
Since cost is not that much of a consideration I would look at for Feather, Robin Mather, Demon if I was looking for a forever frame with lugs. Fillet brazed I would also consider the likes of Roberts, Yates etc.
Robin Mather in Bristol http://apracticalguide.wordpress.com/
Relatively close you, with a "particular fondness for classically styled road, touring and utility bikes with lugs, mudguards and racks"
Looked at his old site a while back and there wasn't one I didn't like/
Demon are in Southampton http://www.demonframeworks.com/
A couple of threads on his custom frames:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &start=195
http://www.lfgss.com/thread77424.html
Feather in York http://feathercycles.blogspot.co.uk/
Seems to be more fixy orientated, so maybe not top of the list.
And maybe Villiers-Velo in Gillingham.
If I was in Worcestershire I don't see why I would choose anyone other than Robin Mather. No doubt argos would build a workman like fame, but doubt it would look anywhere near as good a Robin Mather.
sc001.JPG by Robin Mather, on Flickr
Robin Mather in Bristol http://apracticalguide.wordpress.com/
Relatively close you, with a "particular fondness for classically styled road, touring and utility bikes with lugs, mudguards and racks"
Looked at his old site a while back and there wasn't one I didn't like/
Demon are in Southampton http://www.demonframeworks.com/
A couple of threads on his custom frames:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &start=195
http://www.lfgss.com/thread77424.html
Feather in York http://feathercycles.blogspot.co.uk/
Seems to be more fixy orientated, so maybe not top of the list.
And maybe Villiers-Velo in Gillingham.
If I was in Worcestershire I don't see why I would choose anyone other than Robin Mather. No doubt argos would build a workman like fame, but doubt it would look anywhere near as good a Robin Mather.
sc001.JPG by Robin Mather, on Flickr
-
Gearoidmuar
- Posts: 2349
- Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 7:35pm
- Location: Cork, Ireland. Corcaigh, Éire má tá Gaeilge agat.
Re: Who should build my new frame?
Who should build your new frame?
There's a chap in Taiwan who's built most if not all of my frames. They all fit perfectly because of the componentry. You don't NEED a made to measure frame unless you're a freak. You may WANT one, but that's different..
Instead of a one-off, what is better advice is to get on the blower to SJSC and order a Thorn Raven Tour. That's what I did 3 years ago. My fourth dedicated tourer, though I've also toured on MTBs etc.
They will fit this to you with appropriate components.
I told them I wanted saddle height x, handlebars within 2 inches of this, saddle intersected by seatpost to handlebars y. It was done. It's perfect and I've so far done 8 tours on it.
Now what's so special about it?
Herr Rohloff. This is the greatest bit of touring kit for hills, that there is.
There's a chap in Taiwan who's built most if not all of my frames. They all fit perfectly because of the componentry. You don't NEED a made to measure frame unless you're a freak. You may WANT one, but that's different..
Instead of a one-off, what is better advice is to get on the blower to SJSC and order a Thorn Raven Tour. That's what I did 3 years ago. My fourth dedicated tourer, though I've also toured on MTBs etc.
They will fit this to you with appropriate components.
I told them I wanted saddle height x, handlebars within 2 inches of this, saddle intersected by seatpost to handlebars y. It was done. It's perfect and I've so far done 8 tours on it.
Now what's so special about it?
Herr Rohloff. This is the greatest bit of touring kit for hills, that there is.