Your experiences of London-based frame-builders

It's a nice bike, but £4,500?

Yeah that's a bit hopeful

Only recouping .

Isn't @JB getting a custom stainless bike built from Rusby?

I've got an Oak, it's an extremely well built frame, I've no doubts that it'll stand the test of time.

4,500! haha!! If i got a custom, i would get an Oak tourer

There was an old boy called Charlie who was on my Greenwich to Clerkenwell commute route. A really lovely chap, we would chew the fat for a mile or two when we saw each other.

He rode this Feather, wore a hi vis jacket with an ICE card on the breast pocket.

He built one of the bikes shown as part of the frame building course on display at Bespoke 2014.

Anyway, he has gone in to (semi)retirement and will be making and selling his own frames outta South East London.
I'd love to get in touch with him but I never got his contact details before he retired and now he is no longer on the commute route.

TL:DR - Does anyone know Charlie?

I used to see Charlie regularly too on that Feather and used to talk with him as well but as you note I haven't seen him in some time. I would continue into Greenwich but pretty sure he turned off in Deptford. I think he is in SE8?

Lush Feather is lush.

He did turn right onto Deptford Church Street, but he said he lived in Greenwich.
It'd be really great if I could get in touch with him.

I need to find someone that can do a repair on a frame. Seat post clamp braze ons need replacing. Anyone got any good experiences or can recommend someone for such a task? Ta

Discussed in another thread that most builders busy building frames. Try Mario Vaz brother Winston. He replaced chainstays for me recently

+1 for Winston, good guy and depnding on his schedule can be a v quick turnaround.

Jake Rusby very nice guy to deal with and a very good frame builder.

+1 for Jake, I met him and considered having him build me a frame but in the end found a nice second hand one. I thought he fell into the category of "too busy building frames to do repairs" but yes he is worth a try.

Anyone got a contact for Winston?

@veLLo probably does.

Tried donhue in Hackney wick?

Winston doesn't have a mobile phone, he doesn't think they'll catch on. Call Mario and he'll sort it.

Realise I am very late with this, but the Charlie of which you speak is a Dentist. I believe he is called Charlie Merivale, he used to run the dental practice on South Street which was also his home.

He's sold the practice, and I've not seen him around for ages (which is a pity).

Have the pleasure of having Charlie as a good friend.

Can pass your details on if you like?

Pm

Winston doesn't have a mobile phone

He does now!
07840672646

Dantheman Jingle-Jangle WjPrince and
pharaohsanders I'm still alive (Londoncycling etc!) but I retired and moved to 'old boyville' in Dorset. But I've started making frames...to be very fair, not as well as Mat Sowter, Ryan of Oak or Jake Rusby, but probably signicantly cheaper. However if you want to contact me i'd be happy to chat.

ps I'm the Charlie who turned off at Deptford heading for the Union in Greenwich.

Charlie good to hear you are well in Dorset. I don't think you knew me on here but I was usually on the maroon Robin Mather with white panels, heading into Greenwich. Hai! Don't need a new frame atm but will keep in mind. Good luck with the frame building