I’m building my “10 years” bike. I realize I will want something new down the road and there is no “lifetime” bike. Here’s what I want out of it: steel. 853 or something comparable. that’s it. no ti, no carbon, definitely no aluminum. no sloping top tubes. handbuilt. don’t want lugs, but dont care whether it’s TIG or filet brazed. It will be used primarily for training, fast weekend club rides, long days in the mountains, the occassional century, and the ability (but not primary ability) to throw on a sleeping bag, bivy sack, and some food so I can go on weekend overnights on the rare occassoin.
component spec will be ultegra. haven’t decided on the wheels. would prefer to spend less than $2k for the frame. am currently considering Indy Fab crown jewel, ted wojcik, rock lobster, BREW (“local” guy in NC), steve rex.
so, who should build it. what am I not considering? I realize that I can’t have “racy” while having full touring capabilities, but I want it to do everything while keeping me from lusting after something else.
I’m off for work, but we can finish the build this evening.
Just a thought, it sounds like Waterford bikes would be a good fit for you. Don’t know if you have looked into them but the guys are really good to deal with and the frames are amazing.
I have looked into them. They make some solid bikes from what I’ve read. Something about them doesn’t quite do “it” for me. Since this is my dream bike, I’ll let the “it” remain undefined.
dave is the best builder you never heard of. he won best lugged bike at NAHMBS09, and nobody was a close second. he trained at serotta, then waterford, and is now on hisown and absolutely killing it.
I think I might have to add Strong to the list. His work seems to be well regarded, and his welding looks beautiful from what I’ve seen on the internet.
The Ellis frames are incredible, but unfortunately that’s out of my price range!
I would suggest giving Bilenky out of Philadelphia a look as well. They do some really pretty work. You could probably get your dream frame and have them add frame couplers to make an amazing travel bike to use when the ride ultimately falls “out of favor” for under $2K.
They recently retrofit my steel Serotta with couplers and it definitely turns heads whenever I ride it. The couplers don’t affect ride quality whatsoever and I love to travel with it as regular checked luggage. They are definitely artisans.
Why limit it to new bikes? I agree with the IF suggestions (although sorry Xtrpickels - I’d take an IF over a Seven these days).
However, ,maybe find a used LeMond Zurich/Buenos Aires/Alpe D’uez from the early 2000s and build it up exactly the way you want (I was thinking about going custom but the geometry of the frames was exactly what the fit bike yielded). Maybe swap out the fork, custom paint it (if you can’t stand the LeMond decals everywhere - which is what I did), and have yourself a kickin’ 853 frame on the cheap. That way you could spend the money saved on your dream components, and have a very solid, well made steel frame.
That’s what I did awhile ago and have been beyond happy with it, but my LBS is hanging out a remarkable deal on a NOS Scapin Dyesys frame…
Honestly, don’t know how anyone can consider a ‘modern’ tig’d or brazed (i.e. no lugs) frame that is to be ridden, and not just displayed, without looking at Pegoretti. His bikes are actually oriented around being ridden, unlike many others which seem to be more of cock show of who can make the most intricate rear dropouts (vanilla etc., which are beautiful but most of that is in the paint and unimportant details, imho).
How come you prefer steel to TI? Is there some advantage? I always thought that TI just gave you the benefits of steel (i.e. better ride, etc) without quite the weight penalty.
Also, not to hijack the thread, but excuse me while I hijack the thread: Has anyone here ever tried one of the Magnesium bikes that Leonard Zinn makes? Sounds like a great material - lighter than aluminum with better vibration damping.
some of the really fancy steels are lighter than TI at a given strength
How come you prefer steel to TI? Is there some advantage? I always thought that TI just gave you the benefits of steel (i.e. better ride, etc) without quite the weight penalty.
Also, not to hijack the thread, but excuse me while I hijack the thread: Has anyone here ever tried one of the Magnesium bikes that Leonard Zinn makes? Sounds like a great material - lighter than aluminum with better vibration damping.
