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i wont be doing any serious offroading anymore, but i am damned if i stop riding offroad all together.
so i am going to spoil myself, and go the full custom route and get a bike built for a big old lump.
it needs to be strong, light, look nice, carry a rear rack, take a 2.5 tyre, run a full 3x or 2x set of gears.
never seriously thought about a custom bike, but maybe with my size/build i should have years ago, and maybe i would have saved a lot of money.........nah, trying bikes out is ace..... ;o)
any input or reccommendations of a good custom builder would be greatly appreciated.
Not sure where you are - North? Try Matt at 18bikes - I am so pleased with my custom hardtail from him.
So you’re looking at something vaguely similar to a surly karate monkey then.
i have one, it’s good, but could be improved imo. Vertical dropouts, rather than the vertical and rear facing ones fitted. Also, it’s amazing that a bike can have so many braze ons and not even surly make a rear rack that fits.
Small annoyances aside, it’s extremely versatile, and i can only think that a custom version of something similar would be absolutely superb.
martymac, i have owned 2 x karate monkeys and 1 x ogre in the past.
the rear facing dropout is not for me again.
Yeah it bugs my tits as well. The rear wheel can also be removed vertically (if you remove the axle) on the latest one, but i suppose it’s for the singlespeeders.
but if you’re going custom you would spec vertical anyway. I certainly would.
i would also be using a 27.2 post, a lot more comfy.
XL Swift....
Andy, had 2. fantastic, but a bit light and flexy for me.
Custom with your criteria - Shand springs to mind. Could look at a pinion gearbox as well.
And whilst I'm not trying to knock custom....isn't a Jones plus 25 inch exactly what you're describing in your requirements?
Gotama,
had one........ ;o)
the jones was too small. seat tube measured about 19''. and with a 400mm thomson post in, it creaked like a creaking door every pedal stroke. also, the clearance with a tripple set up would not have worked.
Robert Mathers? Bath or Stroud based I think, but of course if you like in Fife this is no good!
You mean Robin Mather, Brick?
Big waiting list, IIRC. I remember him building his first frame at university. Lovely little bike, that was.
Yeah I know you had 2 😉
Yep that is it! I was struggling to remember exactly. Old cycling mate had one, really nice. Fusion of art and engineering.
Andy, was nice too. i remeber getting a email from someone, warning me to take it easy when riding it fully rigid.
someone's forks folded when descending, and he weighed half what i do. ;o)
Shand with a rohloff.
Push the boat out and get a bespoke artisanal frame by Hartley:
http://www.hartleycycles.com/camilles-demi-porkeur/
Some seriously impressive detailing on that bike.
she ain’t cheap!
the Tam with a custom length seat tube would be perfect.
emailed you steven.
Paul Hewitt? Knows his way around touring frames and I think you'd like the bloke.
Ellis Brigg's place is near you isn't it?
Woodrup do some lovely frames
Someone has already suggested 18Bikes…
…but I'm going to do so as well.
Rob Quirk?
Buy a Surly ECR with some nice finishing kit
We could certainly do what you're after, and Pinion would be worth considering too if you want a nice big range. Something similar has just come out of the jig, bit more road biased but along similar lines, based around a P1.18 but could do similar with conventional gears. Feel free to drop me an email - @18bikes.co.uk">matt@18bikes.co.uk to chat about the options