Custom Stainless Road Bike

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Yet you wouldn't use Grim for his lack of experience?

Good luck JB. I met Jake a few months ago as I was contemplating a new frame and thought his work looked nice. I ultimately decided if I were spending the cash Rourke is the same money and far more experienced and I would go that route. Then I found the Roberts and it was all for nought. But that was my thinking on it.

I met Jake Rusby when I popped down to Saffron Frameworks (they share(d?) that workshop on Grosvenor Terrace in Oval). He seems like a nice guy, and I saw some of his work, which was very impressive.

What dangers are you worrying about in particular? I doubt he'd build you something that was either shoddy or unsafe, but it's going to be a learning process for him, and so won't be quick. Your advantage of picking an outfit like his is that you get real engagement at all stages of the project, compared to dealing with a bigger builder that has less time for cups of tea and chats.

I have no idea who Rusby cycles are but it sounds awesome.

Is Tonic not cheaper than indie?

Sounds awesome anyway

#nahbswankerunit

Whats his timescale like? did he give you an estimate of when he could start?

edit:

XCr is sexy. do it.

On a serious note, I was talking to someone recently about 953, and how Reynold's had realised that it was becoming brittle quicker than ideal, resulting in it becoming compromised early in life, rather than "bike4lief" material.

They have addressed this issue with 931, do you know if the columbus stainless suffers from this issue?

Looks like he's worked with Xcr before which is good.

Very possibly tubs.

Go for tubs. Best bike-related decision I ever made was getting acquainted with tubs.

On a serious note, I was talking to someone recently about 953, and how Reynold's had realised that it was becoming brittle quicker than ideal, resulting in it becoming compromised early in life, rather than "bike4lief" material.

They have addressed this issue with 931, do you know if the columbus stainless suffers from this issue?

I thought 953 was race bike only, as in too fragile to be used daily, and 931 was the commuting version. Like 753 and 731.

Yet you wouldn't use Grim for his lack of experience?

He also is not based around the corner from my work, which Jake is - which I feel is hugely beneficial.

I ultimately decided if I were spending the cash Rourke is the same money and far more experienced and I would go that route

That's my only concern, still very expensive but that is due to my choice of stainless tubing. If I were to go for an IF in stainless, the cheapest one is around £3500!

I met Jake Rusby when I popped down to Saffron Frameworks (they share(d?) that workshop on Grosvenor Terrace in Oval).

What dangers are you worrying about in particular? I doubt he'd build you something that was either shoddy or unsafe, but it's going to be a learning process for him, and so won't be quick. Your advantage of picking an outfit like his is that you get real engagement at all stages of the project, compared to dealing with a bigger builder that has less time for cups of tea and chats.

They still share - I met Matt today, the frame he was working on seemed lovely.

Well, I am 'worried' about going to someone who has never built a frame out of this material before! I do not for a second think he'd give me something he wasn't happy with. He said that he is keen to just build, so everything like bosses, internal routing etc and paint with up to three colours would be included in the £1800, which again, is good.

I have no idea who Rusby cycles are but it sounds awesome.

Is Tonic not cheaper than indie?

Sounds awesome anyway

#nahbswankerunit

Tonic isn't actually custom, they have preset frame sizes but they are build to order (I believe, please correct me if I am wrong) and also Tonic discontinued their road frame for some reason.

Rogan - timescale would be about 4 months if I were to get my deposit down before the end of this year.

Yep - he said 953 feels more like crabon when ridden, which to me defeats the object of riding a steel frame, hence the Xcr choice. The fact that Indy Fab and Firefly use Xcr over 953 also makes me think it's superior tubing for a life-long custom frame.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6813093139_7a01ed0af3_o.jpg

One of my favourite xcr builds

What about electronic shifting, will you be making provision for this or drill at a later date?

I'd get a stem made at the same time like the one on the Firefly above (although different and nicer )

Ted James, his own custom machined stainless 44mm headtubes and pf30 bbs....

If I could come anywhere near close to affording it, I'd be going for a Firefly.

^^ good tip that, Ted James is a genius!
You should mention that it's a new Reynolds tubing too!

That firefly is amazing too,

paint and polished stainless combo's look amazing every time

He is a genius, a top bloke and someone that knows about riding bikes hard.

If I were to go custom, he would be my choice. He has the facilities and skills to do anything you could imagine.

Again, I don't doubt that, but the main thing that is attracting me to Jake is that he's around the corner.

Aye, didn't realise how far out of London he was... Still, less than an hours train away, for someone with extensive experience of working with the material.

IIRC Jake has worked with XCr. The frame he was finishing when I was there had XCr chainstays and downtube. But true I don't think he has built an all XCr frame, he has worked with it. It was painted gunmetal grey metallic, with pink and white enamel accents and some exposed stainless. His paint work looked great.

Sounds fit, pics for TMz...

http://rusbycycles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Guys-Custom-Steel-Road-Bike-1.jpg

Visit rusbycycles.co.uk for more. Not a fan of the build, but it's a great frame.

Mixture of Life, Spirit and Xcr.

Again, I don't doubt that, but the main thing that is attracting me to Jake is that he's around the corner.

Why don't you get the best for the money if you want a bike for life? It seems you limit your choices.

di2 ye?