Isen workshop: adventures in batch production (or not...)

I met with Rodriguez in Seattle. Great people, I have faith in them, but I need to sit on it a while, maybe a long while, longer.

My fitter did recommend Seven, I'll have a second look. I also like the idea of a Scarab.

My sort of peculiar thing is I was looking for a 650b road bike as a smaller rider, which Isen had some specialty in. After staring at the geo charts Caren sent me I can get actually kind of close with a Canyon, which spec that wheel size on their smaller bikes. So as much as I loathe the idea of getting a Canyon with their awkward 1 1/4" steerer tubes, I'll think I'll get one, see if I like Di2, see if I like the smaller wheels and have a better idea in a year or two of where I want to go.

That makes sense. Rodriguez are cool. Paul Sadoff at Rock Lobster would also build you a mean 650b build. If you're in Seattle have you spoken to the team at Cascade at all? They have a very good relationship with Seven.

Not yet. If I am interested in a seven I will definitely hit up Cascade. I love Paul's work (I used to live in the bay area) too.

For me if I was ordering from a US framebuilder, English and Bishops bikes are the top, definitely on my lottery win bucket list.

I have one Scarab that I have had since '18 (rim / mechanical) and another (650b /disc) on its way to me right now for a (entirely hypothetical) 2024 Torino-Nice

I love the first one - best riding bike I have had which made the second one an easy decision.

I'm in N22 if you want to come and have a look at it.

Disclaimer - Santi from Scarab is (now) a mate so you might want to take everything I saw with a handful of salt.

I already posted this but will post my recommendations for reliable and friendly framebuilders in the uk.
Winston vaz is really friendly, professional and affordable. He has 40 yrs experience in building.

Mr. Richard hallett is friendly and very reliable, always happy to talk things through with customers.

Lee cooper in coventry is also very good.40 yrs experience.

Limit bmx in norwich is very good.
Geoff roberts in sussex is good. 30ish yrs experience.

Mr kevin winter in Ferryhill, is also amazing. Very attentive, listens and does very gd paint. 30ish yrs exp
Six four frameworks in london, adrian is very friendly too. 40ish years exp.
There are others but these are the ones I can vouch for.

I’ve not had any issues with US builders…had firefly in past and currently have crumpton and recently lucky enough to get a ti Sturdy. Absolutely worth the money and Toms comms were spot on in terms of managing expectations of delays, parts and when he’s not happy with QC he tells me the delay. Couldn’t ask for more

That’s the thing about good service. Delivering your product is the basics of service, good service is a communications exercise, warning of delays and complications. It’s being proactive so the customer is not calling to complain or chase up. Piss poor service is delivering unworkable products, telling lies, avoiding customers, failing to warn about delays, making undeliverable claims about products and then blaming the customers, and complaining when they become angry and dissatisfied.

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Don’t you think that would’ve been more productive as a PM?

Fair

Your ad hominem comments have been noted. Thank you

Piss poor service is delivering unworkable products, telling lies, avoiding customers, failing to warn about delays, making undeliverable claims about products and then blaming the customers, and complaining when they become angry and dissatisfied.

yeah but shiny biek

I've read all this and I'm sorry to hear that isen is no more and also that people feel they've had poor customer service
business=what's going to happen when and how much
they replaced the bottom bracket shell on my oak and resprayed the frame
they did a great job
of course I had to wait a few months but that made me appreciate having a bike again
hope everyone is doing well yes these are tough times but we'll get through
peace and love

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Am in a cafe called Service Course in Nice. Decent coffee, and they have hire bikes. They have 3 Isens as hire bikes but didn’t know they have folded. Well they have 3 isens but one failed at the bottom bracket just this week.

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They have 3 Isens as hire bikes but didn’t know they folded.

Wait, Isens fold? Brompton must be quaking in their boots!

Oh. OH

However, if you are of the opinion that we are actually a bunch of scamming scumbags, you can at least take heart knowing that because of it we won't be able to work in the industry again, so hold that close at least.

Is it fair to presume that Caren will return at some point with Hartley Cycles Ltd ? It is still incorporated and moved registered offices earlier this year from the same office as ISEN to another address.

Nothing constructive to add here, but I always really loved their paint. How were they doing that? Assumed some kind of silver base coat with candy fades over the top, but I honestly have no idea of the process or how it worked. Looked great and pretty unique IHMO.

Cromavelto i believe but not very tuff for a bike.

Cromavelto

The Isens are not Cromovelato

Thats the effect they wanted though .

Thats the effect they wanted

Did they? I thought they were going for a candy vibe. If you want the Cromovelato look, the easiest way to acheive it is to put a tinted clear coat over chrome plating 😁

It's a combination of standard metallics, candy products and 'candy basecoat' products.

Blacks and silvers are used first, then the candy and candy basecoats are layered over the top.

The candy and candy basecoats have some translucency so they present their own hue and act as a coloured lens to view the colour beneath. These product choices make blending and layering add up to a wider range of colours than the number of products used... I hope that makes sense!

Its a great way of offering a dynamic design with a minimal amount of masking.

It relies heavily on the skill of the application and because of the freehand nature of the painting, each one is a little different.

Its quite impactful as far as paint goes and doesn't need any technical insight for a casual observer to appreciate it.

It has limitations but many paint finishes do for what it's worth.

I wouldn't wish to be disparaging with this comment but I wouldn't say it was unique in any real way. Fades are well established in refinishing, candy and candy basecoats are off-the-peg, and pairing black and silver with these types of product is how it's been done since the dawn of time. Then obviously it makes the cromovelato reference that many of us recognise.

Its a good effect and they use it well.

You can ask any refinisher to do tat sort of finish for you if you're keen.