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I'm really happy to report that I just got off the phone with Steve Goff (after more than a year of intermittent attempts to reach him).

He sounded just like I would expect him to! And he was immediately likeable and sympathetic. So I am going to have a Steve Goff bike made for me.

I really like the idea of someone who has practised a craft for decades, having learned the craft in turn from someone else who was also a master of it.

There are plenty of custom frame-builders and it's great that new people are turning to it, and having new ideas. But I feel sad that the traditional builders are fewer than ever.

If he had retired I would expect the website to be updated to reflect that and perhaps the phone line to be disconnected. I sincerely hope that the fact that they haven't does not meet that he was overtaken unexpectedly by circumstances.

I admit that my interest is partly personal: I would love the opportunity to buy a bike from him.

http://www.steve-goff-frames.co.uk - I have tried calling numerous times, but there's no answer.

Would be a shame if another traditional frame-builder has called it a day.

Thanks very much, that is greatly appreciated.

I also found:

Geoff passed away last year. Complications of leukaemia finally took him, even though he had battled it twice. A great guy, a funny man and someone who cared for other people. I used to work with him at Bell Street Bikes and it was one of the happiest periods of my life.

Here's the same bike as mine, but with callipers.

I'm in Cardiff.

I think callipers look much nicer and more brakey.

I have a steel bike with cantilever bosses on the seat stays and forks. I'd much rather use it with callipers.

How easy is it have them removed, and is there any reason not to do this (for example, can the treatment harm the frame)?

I've seen another model of the same bike with callipers instead of cantilevers, so I assume that it was just the buyer's choice when it was ordered (I think it was a custom built frame).

Then I will get it resprayed - can you recommend anyone who can do both jobs?

I mentioned this elsewhere the other day: an editable Google spreadsheet with up-to-date information about UK frame builders.

I have 65 of them listed so far. I can give edit access to anyone who asks for it. Feel free to correct errors/omissions or add new columns for additional information.

@Vintagehaus Do you know any more about BSB bikes? I also have a BSB 400 that was given to me about 10 years ago (mine has cantilever brakes). It's a lovely bike, but I don't know who built it or where it came from.

A more up-to-date version of the list of UK framebuilders, in a Google spreadsheet.

Anyone can view/make suggestions, but I can provide edit access if anyone asks for it.

Must have: horizontal top tube, calliper brakes, down tube shifters, lugs for mudguards/light rack.

Prefer: a compact crankset over a triple, non-aero brake hoods, 130mm rear drop-outs.

Can collect from Cardiff or nearby.

I posted separately, but then realised I'm supposed to post these things here, sorry.

I was given quite a nice old tourer some years ago. I think it was a custom-built bike. The only identification is "BSB 400" in a 1980s typeface, as in the attached image.

It's Reynolds 531, has cantilever bosses and 130mm rear drop-out spacing.

It's an extremely pleasant bike to ride, and I have stripped it down to have the frame repainted.

Any ideas who built it or where it came from?

I was given quite a nice old tourer some years ago. I think it was a custom-built bike. The only identification is "BSB 400" in a 1980s typeface, as in the attached image.

It's Reynolds 531, has cantilever bosses and 130mm rear drop-out spacing.

It's an extremely pleasant bike to ride, and I have stripped it down to have the frame repainted.

Any ideas who built it or where it came from?

Do you have pictures, or more details (rack, mudguards...)?

Is it easy to retrofit a rack or the front luggage carrier?

This is gorgeous, just the bike I've been looking for, in every respect - except the size, which is just a size and a half too large for me.