Custom build by Spoon Customs

Hi all,

After lots of pondering I decided to go down the route of a custom build because it seemed, in my case, the best thing to do; I can get a bicycle that looks like I want and that's it's going to be a good fit for me without compromises and without the risk of having the same issues I had with my last Cinelli.

So I decided to start the build project post to include you also in the builder decision, I have shortlisted some, out of which I have few favourites of course but I will also, in the end, decide based on, time to reply and lead time, on personal gut feeling connection with the builder, and of course also pricing (this is relative because I can take advantage of the cycle to work scheme with most of the shortlisted ones which makes the all process easier), and I will of course welcome your input.

Without further ado, here is the list in alphabetical order:

Barbastelle - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Cloud 9 Cycles - Discarded (Pipeline on hold until mid May)
Colossi - Discarded (No reply)
Feather Cycles - Discarded (I decided to not follow up considering I have other valuable alternatives)
Field Cycles - Discarded (No reply)
Meteor Works - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Moss Bikes - Discarded, settled for Spoon Customs
Quirks Cycles - Discarded (Limited payment options, cost)
Saffron Frameworks - Discarded (Limited payment options, cost and lead time)
Spoon Customs - The winner
Ted James Design - Discarded (No reply)
Wyndy Milla - They will build the bicycle under the Spoon Customs brand

Additional suggestions/reserves from the conversation:

Hallett Handbuilt Cycles
Rourke Handbuilt Cycles
Six Four Frameworks
Varonha Frameworks
Walty Titanium
Woodrup Cycles

Please let me know your thoughts/preferences from the list.

As for the components this is what I have available at the moment, coming from my previous build:

Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Sugino SG75 DD Black with MB608 steel bottom bracket
Chainring: Sugino Zen Black 49T
Sprocket: Sugino Fixed Black set 16T, 17T and 18T + Halo 19T
Chain: Wipperman 1R8 for reliability or Wipperman Connex 100 for aehestetic being almost black and a better fit for the overall look of the bicycle
Handlebars/Stem/Seatpost: Fizik Cyrano R5 full set
Saddle: Bontrager Montrose
Brakes: Campagnolo TT Centre Pull (this was a weird choice of mine, basically I ended up having a cable splitter mod so I can operate one brake with two levers)
Wheels/Hubs: H+ Son Archetype + Sapin Double Butter Race spokes + Goldtext Black track hubs in a 28 holes setup front and rear, wearing a 25mm tubeless Schwalbe One.
Pedals: Shimano 105 5800 SPD SL

I welcome inputs for upgrades.

awesome, +1 for cloud 9 i know the guy who builds for them and he does good work. personally i would steer clear of barbastelle. What made you disregard saffron?

Out of interest, why did you decide against Saffron?

Depending on the kind of bike you're looking to build, I can recommend Varonha Frameworks. Substantially cheaper than most of the above and worked at Roberts for 30+ years (and usually not much of a lead time).

can't comment on the list of frame builders, but what were the problems with your cinelli?

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/361082/

@Biggles567 thanks for the +1 on cloud 9. Why would recommend against barbastelle? To be honest I didn't know them before I watched a video about Bespoked and liked some of the things they presented there.

@.gaz. I'll check them out but I would rather not add more, it's already a big list

Saffron was coming too expensive without the option to part the payments, a huge disadvantage versus the other competitors. Also the lead time was quite long compared.

Cheers :)

ty, smaller framed fixed gear without toeverlap is a noble pursuit

I don't mind having a little, that much that maybe just smudge the toe of the shoe making annoying at best, right now, it's a dangerous one as you can see in the picture.

The thing is, maybe I don't need such a small frame anymore, lately I worked a lot on my flexibility so I might be able to reach/stretch further, in fact I'll soon get another fitting. Moreover the Cinelli has some of the most aggressive geometries, the rake is only 28mm. I'm confident with a custom build we can sort something out having less mass production constraint. As last resort I can always got the 650 wheels route and/or the 155mm crankset route to shave precious millimetres.

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Exciting times! Of those I'd go for Feather, I had a chat with Ricky a few years ago about a frame build that never became but he's a lovely chap and very helpful and informative. He's built some cracking bikes too!

Do also rather like Quirks stuff and spoke to him around the same time and was also impressed with the chat I had with him.

@hippy please merge with 'Shit fixie skidders say'

Great thread, looking forward to what will come of it.

Moved to the original post to keep it all together

Ricky, seems to be quite swamped at the moment and particularly affected by the lockdown and pandemic, but I'll surely make contact with him.

With Quirks let's say where the conversation leads.

Thanks for your support, really appreciated... :-/

Why would recommend against barbastelle?

I just wouldn't sink big money into a builder who hasn't got a really solid catalogue of frames behind them. Their websites a bit average and from the looks of the insta they only have about 10 frames behind them. If you end up paying the same as someone who's done 100 frames you might as well go with someone else.

I understand, so far actually Barbastelle is the cheapest one. It's basically there on par with Colossi. The former quoted £1500 for custom frame based on Columbus Spirit and the latter £1415 (converted from euro) for Columbus Spirit HSS but to that I then need to add shipping from NL + VAT + maybe import duty. But your consideration is solid and I'll definitely take it into account.

Woodrups in Leeds might also be one to consider, they make some very nice modern frames nowadays. They've also just brought/saved Bob Jackson and will be updating their range.

A serious amount of experience with the above, probably more years than all of the other builders - appreciate that doesn't make them 'better'.

I'll look into them and keep them into consideration if any of the one in my list drops of takes to long to reply. Cheers.

In the spirit of recommend what you own... Richard Hallet built my track frame a few years ago. A proper engineer but isn't well known by anyone under 50 and so doesn't have a hipster mark-up in his prices or waiting list.

https://www.instagram.com/richardshallett/?hl=en

Kevin Sayles has decades of experience but his bikes are not old-fashioned, definitely should be considered IMO.
Mario Vaz at Varonha (ex Roberts) makes some lovely filet-brazed frames too.

Aluminium from Mielec?

those 650 adventure tours rock

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have a look at their work too and add them to the list if they catch my interest.

Is Kevin Sayles woodrup? That's the only reference I found online.

Varonha was recommended previously as well, so that's a +2 I'll check their work too.

I thought about him because I remember he was highly regarded here on the forum, but, I think a part of me would like to work with someone local. Wyndy Milla offers custom aluminium for example.

I know I added colossi to the list, lured by their LowPro, but all considering I'm to sure it will cut it against the others in the end. The import duties and all are real and the logistic of it might not be ideal.