I need a bike

edmundane so that you guys know, i've always lusted after a hand built frame but uk framebuilders. be it a bob jackson mercian witcomb or roberts.

when i finally get a better job with decent pay i'm going to order one straight away to celebrate.

what do you guys reckon, out of the 4 that i mentioned, which one should i go for? anyone who can tell me the differences between them and how to choose which one?

Bob is cheapest, Chas Roberts most expensive, Witcomb and Mercian half way between.

Chas Roberts is yer man for fillet-brazing, by all accounts. He uses the same painter as Witcomb, so the finish will be similar.

Jackson and Mercian have very lengthy waiting lists, Witcomb much less, dunno about Roberts.

Witcomb has an uninterrupted history, Jackson doesn't, I think Roberts and Mercian do.

You can't go wrong with any of them, really.

Obviously budget plays a part. Speak to the builders, decide from there.

Witcomb. Close to home, and he's got the history. Helped restore my Grandad's bike up a treat. Plus he's London! None of this posting rubbish. And I reckon he'll let us put some spoke cards in his shop.

jv [quote]dexterflexter

fixedgearlondon

£500 will get you get you an excellent bike!

is that a surly steamroller frame?[/quote]

dont think it is. steamrollers got track ends this one's got dropouts.

thanks kowalski and photoben
looks like witcomb's a good one, i'm a lug person so roberts is not really my choice, plus he's expensive.

only thing is i'm always really fond of bob's decal styling and the headbadge. and nothing beats mercian's spiral seat tube dressing.

tough choice...

it looks just like a steamroller cept for the seatpost clamp and the dropouts.

don't steamroller have wiggly stays and no lugs?

oh yeah you're right..

damn I wish I had known about witcomb earlier.. I live in deptford and I had no idea about him! Anyone know how he reacts to strange people popping by to see how he builds the frames? :P

Depends how strange!

He's a really sound guy, I'm sure it would be fine.

A progress report on mine would be handy... ;-)

Barry Witcomb is a very friendly and nice bloke. If he's not busy, he's always happy to talk bikes and frames. We went there numerous times before any of us actually bought anything and he was pretty chatty.

Shop is very small and sadly they don't have many mementoes of Witcombs real glory days. Most of the time they're just fixing bikes for the Goldsmiths kids and locals. Doesn't build a lot of frames these days, it seems to be mainly refurbs. But again they really look good when they're done.

Barry is really easy to deal with (a little forgetful at times) and his prices are pretty damn good esp for the quality (he's also pretty good at chasing down NOS tubsets and lugs). ImOnCrank had a beautiful Witcomb track frame made there in 2006 - talk to him about the details.

Had a fork made there. Build quality was superb.

that frame's a Raleigh.
i know coz it's mine.
not sure what model or age though.

I got my Yamaguchi frame today. It is beautiful. Unfortunately im off to the northern atlantic in about 4 hours so it will be sitting around till december waiting for me! Dammit.

congrats! was a long enough wait...
and that bit somewhere in between the middle of this thread brings up some sad feelings about the whole witcomb thing...

edmundane
and that bit somewhere in between the middle of this thread brings up some sad feelings about the whole witcomb thing...

i just saw that. how things have changed.