Is Steve Goff still in business?

http://www.steve-goff-frames.co.uk - I have tried calling numerous times, but there's no answer.

Would be a shame if another traditional frame-builder has called it a day.

Are frame builders not allowed to retire?

Not in the case of the great Goff, possibly the last British builder who would produce a damned good frame for a reasonable price, without Instagram or the slightest whiff of 'artisan'. If he has retired, there should be a fanfare and wreaths laid, just really quietly.

I really like the idea of someone who has practised a craft for decades, having learned the craft in turn from someone else who was also a master of it.

There are plenty of custom frame-builders and it's great that new people are turning to it, and having new ideas. But I feel sad that the traditional builders are fewer than ever.

If he had retired I would expect the website to be updated to reflect that and perhaps the phone line to be disconnected. I sincerely hope that the fact that they haven't does not meet that he was overtaken unexpectedly by circumstances.

I admit that my interest is partly personal: I would love the opportunity to buy a bike from him.

@gizmond might have his number, he had a beautiful Goff track frame built about a dozen years ago.

I'm really happy to report that I just got off the phone with Steve Goff (after more than a year of intermittent attempts to reach him).

He sounded just like I would expect him to! And he was immediately likeable and sympathetic. So I am going to have a Steve Goff bike made for me.

And turn this into the build thread for it? Very good.

OK, sure! I would be glad of input.

I'd like to have a traditional light tourer, with a steel frameset.

The basics:

• flat top tube
  
• quill stem
  
• shifters on the downtube
  
• old-style brake hoods
  
• braze-ons for mudguards, rack, bottles
  
  

wheels:

• perhaps say https://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=WHHAR6SF, or perhaps the version with hub dynamo on the front
  
• 25c tyres
  
  

transmission:

• compact chainset, say 50T/34T chainring (e.g. https://www.geneticbikes.com/shop/products/chainsets/cranks/clubman-crankset/) and an 11-28 eight/nine-speed cassette. I feel the crankset needs to look right.
  
• shifters - not bothered about indexing, but is it better to have clamp-on or bolt-on shifters?
  
  

the rest:

• handlebars perhaps https://www.geneticbikes.com/shop/products/handlebars/road/heritage-bars/
  
• calliper brakes, but not sure exactly what, or about the levers
  

I'm delighted that he's still going, absolute top man! If you want to see an example of his work, search 'shiny bits' which will bring up the road fixed he built for me and I still love.

flat top tube
quill stem
shifters on the downtube
old-style brake hoods
braze-ons ...
25c tyres

Seems kind of mad to me that you'd want a bike built today that is this limited. Why 25c tyres for instance? The rest of the stuff I can almost understand. You could probably get a very good second hand bike to meet all these criteria. Granted, it might not be a Goff...

Seems kind of mad to me that you'd want a bike built today that is
this limited. Why 25c tyres for instance? The rest of the stuff I can
almost understand.

Basically, because I like them. I like the look of them. I like the way that when I ride a bike with downtube shifters, I hardly every change gear, whereas when they're at my fingertips I inevitably seem to shift for every corner. I honestly don't really have better reasons than for example I feel happy when I see a quill stem.

I'm delighted that he's still going, absolute top man! If you want to
see an example of his work, search 'shiny bits' which will bring up
the road fixed he built for me and I still love.

Really gorgeous.

I was tempted a few years ago... if he did a metal head badge I would have pulled the trigger.
Incredible value for money.

I bought this off the forum a couple of years ago . Can't remember who from (sorry!) Very reasonably priced and is an absolute joy to ride. Quick and comfortable it turns heads whenever I ride it ! I don't know anything about it's history yet, it's 23c but don't find that a problem!

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I'm really happy to report that I just got off the phone with Steve Goff (after more than a year of intermittent attempts to reach him).
He sounded just like I would expect him to! And he was immediately likeable and sympathetic. So I am going to have a Steve Goff bike made for me.

I have used him a few times for frame repairs and alterations(he is local to my parents)
You will be hard pressed to find a nicer guy and he is a really talented frame builder.
Good luck with your build.

Just seen this, all I have is the number on his site, but looks like you've made contact now.
Have to echo what others have said, top bloke and amazing building, the attention to detail is second to non in my option. You real feel like you are getting something completely unique.

I made a trip up to Skelmersdale yesterday from Cardiff and met Steve Goff. As everyone said, a really nice fellow, who gave me a lot of time and clearly knows his craft inside and out. I liked him a lot.

He has my deposit now for a tourer.

I still have to decide on a few things. Mainly: can one get mudguards and 28c tyres under Campagnolo brakes? If so, I'd go for that. Otherwise, I'll stick with 25c

Welcome to GoffTime, a parallel measuring unit which passes at almost exactly double that of Earth normal time. If he says 6, he means 12, the wait WILL be worth it.

I've been looking at his site, want a classic steel with hydraulic disc brakes. Ideally I'd be getting a flying gate but TJ retired and Elizabeth who is building them is on sabbatical and her prices are pretty high!

What's Steve's current 'expected'waiting time?

You can get trp/tektro and velo orange calipers that will take 28 with guards easily, and work great. For a tourer I'd do that, rathe than limit myself to 25.

Also if it were mine I'd use modern brake hoods for comfort and aesthetics, even if using a quill stem. And I agree about downtube shifters. Of course, it's not my build, so you do you!

Im fancying these plus bar end shifters

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284064757543

Also if it were mine I'd use modern brake hoods for comfort and
aesthetics, even if using a quill stem.

That's the trouble, that such a lot of the pleasure of riding a bicycle is aesthetic pleasure in the machine itself.

I actually like the look of old-style brake hoods with the cables curving over, and the way a handlebar bag fits inside them. (The tucked-away Campagnolo cables on my Bianchi make for an elegant profile too - but the gear cables that shot out sideways from the Shimano hoods on my stolen Dawes tourer, no, not pleasurable to look at).

What's Steve's current 'expected'waiting time?

He said it would be ready for September (and I've just booked a passage Plymouth-Santander for a week in the mountains, so I hope so!).

Did he specify which year? Let him know you've booked, it might spur him on....

Is it really that bad? Is there anyone left building in steel for this sort of money?