Your experiences of London-based frame-builders

In 18 months time I'll turn 40, and I'm going to treat myself to a new bike - possibly based on a bespoke frame. I would like it to be made in London, and I was thinking about Roberts in Croydon, though I now see there are quite a few new-ish builders around: Saffron, Oak, Rusby... I think @edscoble has an Oak - anyone have experience with others they'd care to share? Is it worth having a Cyclefit/ Bike Whisperer fitting first, or can I assume most frame-builders know that shit inside out?

My Oak was amazing, and is the very best bicycle I've ridden in my life, he now have a 2 years waiting list.

I would says it's worth having a bike fit, even though it add up to the cost, it's a surefire way of ensuring that the bike fit exactly what you want from it.

Talbot Frameworks in SE19 just made me a nice fillet brazed frame in 853

May I enquire as to the cost inc paint?

My talbot is my pride and joy. matt is the man!

Talbot (@coldharbour) and Bike Whisperer (@scherrit)

Who is Saffron?

Matthew Sowter:
http://www.saffronframeworks.com

Matt at Saffron makes some amazing bikes, he won best in show at the last Bespoked or something like that.
My Oak is amazing, it was the first racing style frame that Ryan had built and we decided on a geometry that's like a cross between classic Italian frames and a criterium bike. I paid a good amount less than I should have because of this and Ryan has since got a longer waiting list and bigger overheads.
I have only heard good things about Talbot, and he seems to be churning that out at a rate of knots. Which is a good thing.

It may be worth getting a bike fit beforehand or depending on who you go with you might be able to do one with the builder. They will most likely ask you about your current bike and what you would like to change.

@coldharbour's bikes are just about herne hill proof.

Their facebook page is worth following for insights into the process and trials encountered when moving ridiculously heavy machinery.

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Thanks for this. I've just found @hoops Talbot thread and I'm impressed (cc @coldharbour). I have a fair idea of what I'd like functionally and aesthetically but not a bottomless budget, so I probably need to write my ideas down and speak to a few makers about what's achievable within that.

I have to say that I'm also a carbon virgin and there is an imp on the other shoulder saying it would be a good deal cheaper to get a well-spec'd road bike through the cycle scheme, albeit with a substantial top-up from my own pocket... I am hugely vain, though, so the thought of seeing my own name emblazoned across the down tube is pretty attractive.

I've got Matthew's (saffron) light tourer, not custom to me but its bloody lovely. top guy too, well worth a chat with.

Seen Rusbys bikes in the workshop too when he shared with Saffron, and they look super nice.

Custom frames aren't crazy expensive, you just have to wait a while longer for it. But then no one else can walk in to a shop and walk out with the same bike as you.
You can get a very nice frame built from 853 with top end carbon forks and a fancy paint job for £2k. Unless you can find something on sale you can just about get a mid-range carbon frame for that money. And honestly I don't like worrying that if I let my bike fall over it may need to be binned.

That is boss

Matt's work is awesome.
I was a little apprehensive about Matt as a framebuilder at first, as he is quite new to the game, and I had a very specific build in mind that would involve some stuff he hadn't done before.

The bike isn't finished yet (just waiting on me to sort the paint now), but every part of the process has been faultless so far. There have been one or two hiccups, but this is to be expected when you are doing something for the first time!

I couldn't recommend Talbot highly enough.

Wait time is exactly why I'm making inquiries now for early 2016! I really only have experience of steel bikes - current main whip is a 2010 Genesis Equilibrium. I like how that rides, but then it's my first 'serious' road bike so I don't really know any better. Should probably ride a few others for comparison...

you are welcome for a spin on my saffron if you like

I would like that very much! PM coming...

Jake Rusby made me some forks, I was very pleased with the work he did. I would recommend

Rusby, Talbot and Saffron all getting mad love from the forum, and all doing great work by the looks of things... Roberts also still a contender, but the more I think about it I would like to be a short bike ride from where my frame is being made, so I can see as much of the process as possible. If I was to take that idea to its logical conclusion I would get my bike made here, but whilst I've had good experiences with them as mechanics, Ashley is a bit overbearing.

Ima draw up a rough spec/ 'mood board' (I hate myself) with some pictures of bikes wot I like and circulate to my builder shortlist. Cost is not the only factor but it is a major one, and I do like that Saffron's service includes a Cyclefit assessment. All else being equal, it's a personality contest.

Mario Vaz's brother used to build frames for Roberts. He now works with his brother (Mario) independently and builds/repairs frames.

All out of his workshop in Hither Green?

Roberts also still a contender.

I would says that the other you've listed are more toward artisan, not saying Roberts isn't as good, just that the others are much more eager to do something completely different, especially since the majority of framebuilder you've listed doesn't have a line-up for that reason.

^^^^Love this those lugs are tight!

Yep indeed.