These would obviously be custom fit - which is important because i am very tall. Or should i just save a bunch of $$$ and get a Cannondale CAAD7 that I can spec with the stuff i want for about 1800 bucks, and which will not be an optimum fit (though not horrible, I suspect)?
By the way, this will be my first real road bike - I have a Cervelo tri-bike. I see it being used for solo rides in rolling-hilly areas from 20-100 miles. Maybe some club rides - pretty casual stuff.
also go look at the Sachs, Spectrum, or maybe a Mandraic websites
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www.steelmancycles.com Love his bikes!
Jim
I also just went to the Curtlo website. Is it right that i can get a better bike for a lot less from Curtlo or the smaller “artisans”?
Anyone own a Curtlo? Opinions?
J
Guru make a nice custom steel bike, too.
Check out Bob Jackson.
I have a 61cm Jamis Eclipse that fits me well. You can find 2002 models out on the net for a steal. Very nice bike with an 853 frame, Ouzo Pro fork, Ksyrium SSC SL wheels, and full Ultegra group.
I don’t know if they still have them, but check out bicycleblowouts.com. I saved $800 on mine.
Man, that is like… BMW, Porsche or Mercedes?
Seriously, each of those are sensationally made bikes, but I have a soft spot for Serotta for a list of reasons too long to list.
At least you know, whichever you get, 2 things will happen:
It will fit.
It will be super nicely made.
Ya know, i just e-mailed Richard Sachs. He responded immediately and told me there is a 40 month wait. FORTY MONTHS!
Wow. They must be nice!
sachs doesn’t make bikes. he’s an artist whose medium happens to be bespoke bicycle frames.
don’t mean to offend … but, as you describe yourself, you aren’t really a sachs rider.
how tall is “really tall”? and how did you determine you need a custom?
rather than recommending a brand, i’d say find an expert fitter. let them do their thing, and then order what they recommend. once you get into the rarefied air of the builder you mentioned, it doesn’t matter too much who you go with. they’re all that good.
where are you located? some of use might be able to recommend good fitters to start the process.
LoL you did ask about steel custom bikes! Didnt say reasonable priced or even about waiting list. 
Cervelo - duh. You want a cervelo…
Does anyone have thoughts on Bilenky? I was thinking of getting a custom bike from him with the S&S travel couplers.
got my serotta colorado III last year - late July/August, took 3 weeks. I love my bike and fit. Best ever. As some others have said its like choosing between bmw, mercedes etc. but here’s another thing about Serotta, for 250$, you can join their “serotta owners’ club” and get crash coverage. http://www.serotta.com/pages/ownersclub.html As an owner of a trashed aluminum bike, (cracked frame+fork) its nice to know I’ll be covered on this baby. 'cuz you never know…
Perhaps he should quit answering the phone for a while and go braze some damn bikes!
Fitting is not my issue. Just the bike to choose. I have an excellent fitter who sells all of the brands i mentioned. Or, I can take their numbers and order my “ideal” bike from Curtlo or someone else.
Yeah - I am definitley not a Sachs rider! I am looking for something functional that fits me properly without becoming a Frankenstein of spacers and stem angles etc. I do not care about cachet. BMW or Porsche is fine for me, I do not need Aston Martin.
I am 6’7".
Quite surprised Independent hasn’t come up…
I am 6’7".
I’ve had two customs (for vanity, not because I needed it): Serotta and Steelman. Both were great. I still have the Steelman (a mtn bike) but sold the Serotta last year.
Of the 3 you mentioned, I’d go with Serotta. Mostly because my experience with them was great. They built exactly what I wanted, on time and at the price I wanted.
I would put Serotta in the Aston Martin league, no doubt. A tricked out Ottrott is defintely the vanquish on the bike world.
Good luck.
Hey Johnt
I have a Seven Ti Odonata and it by far the best bike I have ever had! Having a custom bike built is just the best! You will go out in to your garage and it will call to you! I have 4 bikes, TT, Cross, MTB and my Seven. and it’s the one I ride the most! It is perfect! It will take a month or so to get it going in the design stage, but you will never be sorry!
Get the Seven and look at one of the Ti models, they ROCK!!!
Dan…
at 6.7 try zinn
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