I’m seriously considering getting a custom triathlon frame with custom geometry built. I’ve priced it out and it’s a great deal. But given certain logistical issues I cannot be fit in person and have to take and provide measurements, so I need to work with the shop/builder via email and phone correspondence.
Besides the attraction of having a one-off frame built especially pour moi, I believe I come between two sizes of the stock frames by this manufacturer, so it makes sense. I’m also the inhabitant of a long leg/short torso body type, which can be hard to fit, although I seem to be able to achieve a low front end and flat back.
Assuming measurements (I’ll measure thrice at least) are accurate is there any reason not to go custom? What should I be looking out for? I’m not concerned with diminished re-sale value of a custom frame because I intend to ride this baby a lot, and judging by market trends aluminium frames will have little re-sale value in a couple years. I suppose my concerns come down to what is done with my measurements once I provide them and they’re in the hands of the fitter and builder.
David, aside from not being there in person for the fitting the only negative I can think of is that you will not have achance to ride the bike and see how it handles or indeed how it rides. Let us know how things progress.
True enough, but I don’t put much stock in test rides, anyway, as it takes too long to tweak setups. Heck, a simple saddle swap transformed my Soloist from a poodle into a greyhound, and I don’t anticipate any radical alterations for my size that would alter ride characteristics significantly.
Slowman wrote a nice article in the July issue of Inside Triathlon magazine on custom tri bike manufacturers. Worth a read.
And I’m a little prejudiced, since I sell Yaqui bikes, but I think Ves Mandaric really knows his stuff when it comes to building custom tri-bikes. And Slowman rides 'em!
I did custom and am in the process of doing another as we speak. my only concern it the self measurement. Are there no fitters by you where you can pay a couple hundred bucks and get a fitting on a size cycle? Paul and signature cycle and I spent 1-2 hrs on the size cycle looking at wattage-hr-cadence etc to determine what each of the changes did + or -. that was after being measured! so there is really alot more to fit than such your body dimensions.
I can only speak for Ves Mandric of Yaqui cycles as far as fitting without being physically in his shop. He NAILED the geometry for me via internet. I’ve never been on a bike before that handled/performed so well…and, he put me on one of his stock frames…because I fit stock frames.
One reason I can think of not to go custom is: if you have a builder that is willing to do whatever you say, rather than what he knows to work correctly. IOW, raising the BB in order to put longer cranks on and still have about as much cornering clearance…if you suggest things like this and the builder doesn’t raise concerns such as greater toe/wheel overlap and higher Center of Gravity…better find another builder.
Another reason is based somewhat on the first…you are THE test pilot of a design that may not have been proven. You have to determine if you want that role.
Ha! You have got to be kidding… I am no big Lance / Trek follower, but have caught some of the shows on Discovery and OLN. Everything is built around Lance. The bikes you buy at the store are built around Lance, just not custom built for you.
Custom fit is largely a gimmick. Very few people genuinely need a custom bike. The exceptions are those that have unusual proportions such as abnormal leg/torso measurements, etc. For 98% of the population standard size frames will do very well.
Custom fit is largely a gimmick. Very few people genuinely need a custom bike. The exceptions are those that have unusual proportions such as abnormal leg/torso measurements, etc. For 98% of the population standard size frames will do very well.
One big issue I can perceive is resale.
Like I said, I have long legs and a short torso (you should see my small Giant TCR with miles of seatpost showing, as the medium is too long in the top tube), and the builder doesn’t charge extra for custom jobs. But I just want to get it right.
I dont really know and I am not an expert. However, it seems to me that with the range of both manufacturers and models out there and with the ability to fine tune things with seat height, and bar/stem combos, I am not really sure of the need for a custom frame.
I have a bit of an odd build - reasonably short legs on a 6’2" body and I have always found a stock option that works for me.
I’ll voice my concern over the self-measurement as well. There’s always the debate of fit being art or science, and I think an experienced fitter can see/imagine what your body will look like 3hrs into a race. You never know. I’m sure riding a CT for 30mins helps, but 30mins outdoors over rough terrain can result in a very different positon. I think that’s where a good fitter comes in. (By measuring flexibility, core strength, just seeing you in person - body type etc.)
I love my custom Serotta, which was done by Paul Levine. On the other hand, I never wear my custom Rocket 7 cycling shoes. I made the cast with a friend (a physiotherapist) and we read, re-read the instructions but in the end, they were super tight, and gave me the worst pains I’ve ever experienced with a bike shoe. I mostly blame doing the foot cast myself
I think Lance does ride a custom Trek both road and TT bike. I think everyone who buys a Trek model in about a 56 rides Lances custom geometry as both the TT and Maldone frames were built around him.
no direct experience but my wife had a bike made by Ves, I took the measurements and basically followed the entire process closely. It was a draft legal set up (she races mostly road but did race the odd tri), she has very long legs and very short torso which created all sorts of problems fitting on a production frame. I am sure if we looked hard enough we would have found a frame that worked.
I took the measurements as per instructions, only other bit of information she provided was intended use. He came back to inform us one of the measurements was wrong and basically pin pointed her riding strengths and weakness perfectly. I suspect its not that difficult to figure out that given her weight and height high mountain TT is not going to be her strength, but still there were a few tidbits about her riding style that indicated a very experienced person was on the other end. When the drawings came in they were exactly the same as what a local fitter had given us but he spent 2hrs with her, Ves never say her or her previous bike set up.
She has ridden that bike 6 days a week since January, now the weather is getting crappy she is having a hard time giving it up for the cross bike.
The down side as mentioned is resale, warranty issues might not be as easy to deal with (not like going to the local Trek rep in town and showing him your bike face to face, I have personal experience of this!) and its not as cool as some of the new uber aero carbon and ti bikes. Also get someone else to take your measurements and take them a few times for consistency and accuracy. And a certain degree of trust is required!
The best reason to not go custom is that you are the first ever test pilot for that geometry.
There aren’t many fitters *really *capable of fitting custom geometry frames correctly. Two that come to mind are Paul Levine and Wes Mandaric.
The most important part of getting a custom is the fitter. It helps if the fitter is also a frame builder, and Mandaric is. Levine may not be a frame builder per se’, but has a long enough resume and enough experience that he is totally trustworthy.
Sounds like you may be interested in a GURU or other such frame. I have heard nothing but great things about these bikes and the pictures I have seen look amazing.
What if you contacted the builder, gave him your dimensions, and saw what he suggested and then consider whether or not it seems reasonable.