LBS that sell hand made steel frames?

Hi

I'm wondering if there are any local bike shops that carry off the peg steel frames which have been handmade. Brands such as Mercian, etc.

I went to Push cycles in Stoke Newington as they carry Mercian but not off the peg only custom and a new bike will take around 6 months!

I'm looking for a new bike for summer touring so it's got to have eyelets for rack and mud guards.

I went to Mosquito yesterday but these were all mass produced frames. I'm keen on getting a hand made English frame but built up by a LBS. I don't have the knowledge time or tools to build up a bike and just want to build one up via a LBS so I can go cycling :)

Thanks!

Bob Jackson?

Bob Jackson?

I didn't think they had a retail store?

What do you need a retail store for when you're buying a bicycle?
I mean, no matter where you buy the frameset, practically any shop should build it for you.

What's your budget?

brick lane bikes used to do otp bob jacksons

Hi

I'm wondering if there are any local bike shops that carry off the peg steel frames which have been handmade. Brands such as Mercian, etc.

I went to Push cycles in Stoke Newington as they carry Mercian but not off the peg only custom and a new bike will take around 6 months!

I'm looking for a new bike for summer touring so it's got to have eyelets for rack and mud guards.

I went to Mosquito yesterday but these were all mass produced frames. I'm keen on getting a hand made English frame but built up by a LBS. I don't have the knowledge time or tools to build up a bike and just want to build one up via a LBS so I can go cycling :)

Thanks!

If you know what kind of frame you want you're best off going straight to the frame builder, talking to them and finding out how long the waiting list is. If you want something like Mercian or Feather be prepaired to wait about 12 - 18 months. If you don't want to wait that long there is people like Steve Goff who make very nice frames for less money and with a quicker turn around.

Tokyo Fixed used to take orders for Feather but they are the only shop I can think of that you could order a fully custom frame through.

Once you have the frame there is nothing stopping you taking it to a bike shop to build up with the parts. If you aren't sure what's compatible with what, like bottom brackets and headsets, just ask here and we can help. It will be cheaper going to the shop with all the parts and just paying for labour than getting them to order the parts in too.

Cyclefit do steel frames from people like Guru.

brick lane bikes used to do otp bob jacksons

Their website suggests they do not do Bob Jackson anymore. Anyone else do OTP Bob Jackson?

If you know what kind of frame you want you're best off going straight to the frame builder, talking to them and finding out how long the waiting list is. If you want something like Mercian or Feather be prepaired to wait about 12 - 18 months. If you don't want to wait that long there is people like Steve Goff who make very nice frames for less money and with a quicker turn around.

Tokyo Fixed used to take orders for Feather but they are the only shop I can think of that you could order a fully custom frame through.

Once you have the frame there is nothing stopping you taking it to a bike shop to build up with the parts. If you aren't sure what's compatible with what, like bottom brackets and headsets, just ask here and we can help. It will be cheaper going to the shop with all the parts and just paying for labour than getting them to order the parts in too.

Thanks for the response. I'm not keen on waiting 12-18 months unfortunately hence why OTP will suit me just fine. Just want to know where I can get an OTP frame and have a shop build up with my measurements. I'm not even sure what size frame I need so would be good to go to a shop that can provide that advice based on the frames they are aware of.

Pearsons in Sutton may, Tokyo Fixed as above, and Chas Roberts in Croydon, but I dont think its a store front.

Condor will do custom as well for a price

Putney Cycles did this for me a few years ago. I ordered a Bob Jackson audax frame and lots of parts (some sourced by them, some by me). Not sure if they still do it, but they (Simon?) did a great job.

Thanks for the response. I'm not keen on waiting 12-18 months unfortunately hence why OTP will suit me just fine. Just want to know where I can get an OTP frame and have a shop build up with my measurements. I'm not even sure what size frame I need so would be good to go to a shop that can provide that advice based on the frames they are aware of.

Ah ok. I read your original post wrong, sorry.

I can't think of many OTP hand built frames past Bob Jackson really. It all depends on how much money you have to spend. It may be worth getting a friend to help you use the Competitive Cyclist bike fit calculator - http://www.competitivecyclist.com/Store/catalog/fitCalculatorBike.jsp
to give you an idea of what length tubes you need.

If you have the cash then you could buy a complete bike from Mosquito and they will give you a free bike fit, or you could go to someone like them to get a bike fit first then find a frame you like that fits.

Mosquito stock Demon frameworks hand built frames but they are around £2k, similarly Tom Donhou will be taking orders for his new not-custom-but-handbuilt-for-you frames soon and I suspect they may cost around the same.

I don't get the stigma against mass produced frames, in your circumstances you just won't get an "off the peg but made by hand to order frame" the two things are at ends with each other.

Buy all the other parts, buy a cheaper frame, order your next bikes frame for next year with the deposit being the money you saved on the first frame, ride the cheap frame till the other arrives which is measured and made to fit 100% not close enough off the peg.

Some condor frames are handmade - in Italy, but still handmade.

Enigma still do this I think. I assume they are all still made in the UK.

Some are, I think a lot are made overseas now.

I think the handmade-but-not-custom thing is a good idea, we met Mike Burrows at Bespoked and he said "all you need is three sizes, all the rest is stems and seatposts", which whilst I'd not agree with that completely I do think that for the majority of people a correctly sized frame with the correct finishing kit will work for them.

Of course, making that determination is often challenging.

Aren't most Taiwanese frames handmade?

Yep, but I think we're possibly looking at different interpretations of handmade here- quite possibly with a little light racism/xenophobia thrown in for good measure.

Ultimately, the lunch that you would enjoy from both Subway and Nobu would be equally handmade, based on the raw interpretation of the term.

Donhou is TIG'ing his handmade frames, I believe? Much faster than fillet brazing and with very little clean-up, but you still get a frame from a very well respected builder.

Rourke's high-but-entry level frames (853 pro team etc) are also TIG, for the same reason- it's another ~£150ish for fillet brazing.

Fitzrovia deal with Woodrup.

There's plenty of LBS that would be happy to measure you up and tell you the right size frame you need, steel, alu compact, carbon, whatever and help you source, spec and built it for you at a premium.

The main problem is if it is a British builder, who mostly make to order, you'd be looking at finding the appropriate second hand frame (cheaper) which isn't an impossible task, or going with a more boutique foreign offering like Independent Fabrications.

Hoops in Farnham are representing Volagi for example, but this is pricey.

Best bet would be going to a younger builder like Rusby who might have a much faster turnaround than the big name builders and could arrange getting it built up for you.

Talbot Frameworks at Blue Door Bicycles. Nice bikes, freindly shop, and a new small business worth supporting. They mention an eight week turnaround for a frame. Prices from £1200 though, not sure what your budget is.

http://talbotframeworks.co.uk/

OP - You're nuts.

Heed these words of personal experience;

Starting off with a comment like 'you're nuts' is a great way to get someone to listen to your advice.