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I’m thinking far ahead in the future, maybe a year or two, but I’d like a lighter version of my Marin 4 corners bike. The frame and forks are particularly lardy and dull feeling but it fits me PERFECTLY.
I have pretty short arms and a neck problem which means I need a long head tube and a high front end. Sod looking cool I just want to ride in comfort!
However a lot of the custom frame places seem to have quite racy looking bikes and while I know they should be fully custom and make what I want I’d rather go with someone who understands not everyone wants a road bike position. Most of the custom stuff I’ve seen looks like standard road bikes.
I've never seen one of their bikes 'in the flesh' but read an article about Beaumont Bicycles that led me to their site. She looks to make some really well thought through and lovely looking bikes working round people's needs and wants.
Probably pricey though.
http://www.beaumontbicycle.com/
Other possible thought is that some of the new drop bar mountain bikes look (in the photos) to have longer head tubes. Thinking of the new Cotic and Surly drop bar bikes. Probably doesn't solve the bike being a bit lardy though.
Fairlight Secan in the Tall geometry? That's what I bought after breaking my back and thinking I'd never find a comfortable bike again.
Probably best to go on the geometry geeks website and filter through the stack and reach figures.
Not quite custom but the Stooge Rambler is tall at the front? Won't be the lightest bike ever made though.
Genesis Vagabond? (newer version is Reynolds 725)
suited my T-Rex arms exactly - but I should have bought a large as it was just a little too short. High front end was very nice to ride on any terrain at all. I would flip the stem to lower the bars sometimes. I class it as a ATB bike rather than a gravel bike. It’s the most versatile and comfortable thing I’ve ridden to date and plan to own another (in the correct size next time)
I don't know about custom but Fairlight came to mind as they do the tall geometry
The Kinesis tripster is tall at the front, well it is at the XL size. Tall enough I'm tempted to get one to do away with the need for my pointy up stem. It's cheaper and lighter than a Fairlight
FYI you are better off comparing stack to head tube length. Stack allows for variations in Fork length
Rourke are just finishing the paint job on my custom 853 gravel bike, they'll do you any shape you like 😎
I've had three built, full custom, by Waltly Ti.
My most recent is a gravel / adventure bike with a 180mm HT.
I think most custom builders will do a long HT is asked though.
There are many ways to get high handlebars. I built my commuter with a deliberately long head tube to allow a frame mounted rack (to be fitted when I get round to moving the light and routing the dynamo wire and brake hose through the steerer).
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But I also built it around the shortest possible fork with big clearance (Soma Wolverine) so the bars aren't especially high just because the ht is long.
What I also found is the skinny short fork isn't actually as comfortable as the longer legged Singular Hummingbird fork I previously used (direct comparison as that frame used the same tubes, wheel, handlebars etc). So in your quest for high bars I'd use a bit of everything:
Longish forks
Taller ht
A bit of rise in the stem
Also don't overlook standover height which can become an issue if you go too crazy in the frame at the front.
And any decent framebuilder will make what you want.
I’m only 5’7” and most bikes my size have tiny headtubes. My Marin 4 Corners has a 197mm head tube.
But what's the AC of the forks?
Try being 6'4" and finding an XL frame with a proper XL head tube. It's a real bugbear of mine.
Ti Fargo. job done.
Try being 6’4″ and finding an XL frame with a proper XL head tube. It’s a real bugbear of mine.
Yep. It's like when I see reviews of bikes and they're complaining about the tall front end - try having a yard of instep, no bike comes with a tall front end for me.
On my 29er FS I have 50mm of stem spacers and a 40mm riser bar and for my gravel bikes, I flip the stem plus run low-drop bars. I've never had a bike where the grips were anywhere remotely as high as the saddle.
Pi at Clandestine.cc has been singing the praises of long headtubes for some time. I have 2 of his bikes now, lovely things.
We all know the ultimate answer to this handlebar conundrum is a Pedersen. Except they don't actually have a head tube so that will totally confuse the op's high bars must = long head tube.
I saw one of those once, parked up in a village round the back of the Skiddaw hills. Very odd machine. But, just now, looking for images, I found this! Get your bids in!
I was suffering with neck problems so bought the Fairlight Secan in tall. So much better for me and a brilliant bike