Custom build by Spoon Customs

Hi all,

After lots of pondering I decided to go down the route of a custom build because it seemed, in my case, the best thing to do; I can get a bicycle that looks like I want and that's it's going to be a good fit for me without compromises and without the risk of having the same issues I had with my last Cinelli.

So I decided to start the build project post to include you also in the builder decision, I have shortlisted some, out of which I have few favourites of course but I will also, in the end, decide based on, time to reply and lead time, on personal gut feeling connection with the builder, and of course also pricing (this is relative because I can take advantage of the cycle to work scheme with most of the shortlisted ones which makes the all process easier), and I will of course welcome your input.

Without further ado, here is the list in alphabetical order:

Barbastelle - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Cloud 9 Cycles - Discarded (Pipeline on hold until mid May)
Colossi - Discarded (No reply)
Feather Cycles - Discarded (I decided to not follow up considering I have other valuable alternatives)
Field Cycles - Discarded (No reply)
Meteor Works - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Moss Bikes - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Quirks Cycles - Discarded (Limited payment options, cost)
Saffron Frameworks - Discarded (Limited payment options, cost and lead time)
Spoon Customs - The winner
Ted James Design - Discarded (No reply)
Wyndy Milla - They will build the bicycle under the Spoon Customs brand

Additional suggestions/reserves from the conversation:

Hallett Handbuilt Cycles
Rourke Handbuilt Cycles
Six Four Frameworks
Varonha Frameworks
Walty Titanium
Woodrup Cycles

Please let me know your thoughts/preferences from the list.

As for the components this is what I have available at the moment, coming from my previous build:

Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Sugino SG75 DD Black with MB608 steel bottom bracket
Chainring: Sugino Zen Black 49T
Sprocket: Sugino Fixed Black set 16T, 17T and 18T + Halo 19T
Chain: Wipperman 1R8 for reliability or Wipperman Connex 100 for aehestetic being almost black and a better fit for the overall look of the bicycle
Handlebars/Stem/Seatpost: Fizik Cyrano R5 full set
Saddle: Bontrager Montrose
Brakes: Campagnolo TT Centre Pull (this was a weird choice of mine, basically I ended up having a cable splitter mod so I can operate one brake with two levers)
Wheels/Hubs: H+ Son Archetype + Sapin Double Butter Race spokes + Goldtext Black track hubs in a 28 holes setup front and rear, wearing a 25mm tubeless Schwalbe One.
Pedals: Shimano 105 5800 SPD SL

I welcome inputs for upgrades.