[Closed] Talk to me about Custom Steel Frames.

Give Tom a ring at

http://www.sturdycycles.co.uk/

Nice young bloke, just starting out. He used to be full time bike mechanic at one of our LBS. He will be happy to talk to you and give you some ideas.

Interested how this pans out as I have been starting to lust after a cross/do-anything bike from Saffron or maybe Field....but at the same time keep comparing the cost to more mainstream stuff which then seems more sensible.

Clearly you are missing a nice custom steel road bike.

Shand? Custom quality in stock sizes and refined designs, if a true custom isn't needed. Great all rounders that you could have small mods made to, or simply a personal colour. The finish is stunning.

I'd the same problem, for years I'd said I'd get something custom for my 40th but realised that I changed bikes so often as I'm always looking for the next magic bullet, that something bespoke might end up at the back of the cupboard in no time. In the end I went on a biking holiday instead and I reckon that the memories from that trip will stay with me a lot longer than I would have kept a bike.

Custom was included in the price with my Independent Fabrication, but similarly to you, I'm a very normal medium. So I just have their stock 17" geometry.
Still a very special bike though. and I made up for it a bit with custom paint. I've loved mine.

I reckon I will get one (maybe for my 40th!) but only because I commute so do a lot of miles on my CX bike plus I reckon I could replace that and my road bike with a really nice custom 953 bike! However if I thought I wouldn't get a [i]lot[/i] of use out of it I wouldn't bother. YoKaisers idea ^^^ of an awesome biking holiday with the money sounds pretty good.

I'm a sucker for a traditional steel road bike. However, if you don't have a burning desire for a certain bike it might be a waste of money.

There are plenty of off-the-shelf frames which will be great to ride.

I suspect that some custom steel frames might not be particularly great to ride - you're often at the mercy of a builder's idea of a good bike.

Also, some builders could be a nightmare to deal with - if you choose unwisely there's a possibility you wouldn't get your hands on the frame until your 50th!

Local might be better in that the builder can measure you, and you can discuss the design face-to-face, but it's probably more important to choose one who regularly builds the type of bike you want.

If you're handy you could consider going on one of those frame-building courses, and make one yourself.

There must be soemthing you'd want.

Mine would be:
Racey geometry road bike, but with 32c tyres and guards (an 853 kaffenback)
650b+ hardtail with a very long top tube and short seatube (25" & 16")
A bikepacking bike. Like my El-mariachi, but with more bottle cage mounts, lighter tubeset, integrated loops for bags, etc.

All with tapered headtubes, EBB and hourglass stays.

For me, I've always wanted a fillet brazed frame (ever since seeing Overburys adverts in very early MBUKs). Designing my own frame was rad too. A riding buddy who trades under the name Whishart in Vancouver builds a few frames in his basement and I got the opportunity to have one made. It's pretty awesome riding a bike that you designed yourself and had made a few minutes from your hours 🙂

[img] ?oh=496b182524d7b5882158d34ec9d3fc30&oe=54F47315[/img]

[img] ?oh=1cca40163c45bcc3d9a6b77fbf209753&oe=54EC1936[/img]

or me, I've always wanted a fillet brazed frame (ever since seeing Overburys adverts in very early MBUKs).

I use to ride that fillet brazed dream bike

until the forks sheared of at the base of the steerer pitching me head first into the ground. This was undouptedly due to crap construction

To the OP I think a trip might be better

Or not custom posh cx bike like a tripster

If I were to be able to have a custom steel frame, I would be looking at the benefit of knowing the tubeset had been selected and manipulated for how I like and wanted my new bike to feel. Whether it fits is standard.

This was undouptedly due to crap construction

Maybe. As a workshop manager, I've seen every type of material and every type of joining process fail. Crap tubing, crap brazing, an unspotted previous failure etc could all cause 'sudden' failure.

Brazing induces less heat into the tubes and minimizes stress risers, so in itself is a solid way of building a frame. It's just really labour intensive and a bit heavier than a welded frame.

Have a look at the bespoked bristol website and also the NAHBS. You'll find the cream of the crop there. I bought a Kent Eriksen a few years ago and it will never leave my side. Plenty of other bikes have come and gone since but aside from my '95 Kona Kilauea its the bike ive had longest.

My shortlist for a new custom frame would be:
Indy Fab
Moots
Seven
Breadwinner
Donhou
English
DeKerf
DeSalvo

Having said all tht if you can get away with a stock size then Chromag bikes have some of their frames built by Chris DeKerf. A good few hundred cheaper than DeKerfs' own frames.

I'd also add matt at 18 bikes to list to look at for customs. They also do a steel disk road/CX/light touring off the peg frame called the Monsal which is lovely!

Top blokes the bowns brothers.

I'd have Shand build me a 953 version of my SIR.9, with room for a 29+ at the back. Mmmm.

I had an 853 bike built by Argos racing cycles in Bristol many years ago (before kids!).

There is something very special about the bike and the whole process of being measured up, choosing colours etc. Plus it will be a one off that you will cherish for many years.

Go for it!

book onto Dave Yates course and build your own ?

I do like [url= http://www.44bikes.com/ ]http://www.44bikes.com/[/url]

Was just going to say build your own, I'd really love to build a bike.

Check out Farrer Cycles on Facebook. He make a slack 650b long travel hardtail called the LoamRanger! Prices start at £600 with any custom colour!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walleater

As I'm sure you know there is a big stress riser where the steerer is brazed into the crown

every fork I have ever examined has an internal a reinforcing tube inside the steerer at that point. Certainly my mates Overburys bought within a few months did. Mine didn't so a crack started to open up the back and inevitable it failed

No long term damage but it was appears i was knocked unconscious on my own some where. My first memory is of walking along carrying a broken bike trying to work out where I was, trying to find a phone and remember my phone number

OP the build your own option would be tempting for me

Is your current hardtail steel?

Steel rides very differently to aluminium. But then steel bikes can feel different too.

I have a Cotic Soul, having had a Sanderson Life (bent hanger), various Inbreds (still have a ss DN6), Ti- (snapped) and Aluminium hardtails (worn out or too harsh).

I've loved all the steel frames and intend to keep the MK2 26" Soul forever. But then I might buy a MK3 to take a Reverb.

(I also said I'd keep the Life but kept twisting the derailleur hanger).

Want I think I'm trying to say is get a replaceable mech hanger and future proof the build.

Personally I'd buy a Cotic off the shelf, because it's so much fun it should be illegal. But if your wife insists you could look at Shand, Curtis or a Dave Yates framebuilding course - which would be well cool.

Oh - and read "It's all about the bike" by Robert Penn. There's more than the frame to consider!

Have a 26 and a 29 Curtis, both are just perfect, for me, as a custom bike should be.

I suggest you come to Bespoked(I am show manager, so very biased!) and have a good look and chat. It's very important that you like the builder I think, not just their welds. For instance I know whose building mine because they totally enthusiastically get my ride and have some great input.

Loads of great pics and vids on there to wet your whistle!
It's my 40th on the Saturday of the show in April!

If you have the money to consider a custom I would put another vote in for building your own with dave yates, or if you have access to a workshop build your own. Nothing compares to riding your own bike that you designed AND built, fact.

As has been said on here before, you can make bikes feel very different with something as simple as axle standards, wall thicknesses, tubeset, OD's etc. So either you need to know what your doing or work with someone who does. I manage to make my 29er stiff as hell with a 142x12 rear and 853, when you put your foot down it just goes, not a featherweight though but it does track like a beast.

Or the bicycle acadamy, Robin Mather and Ted James are propper tubesmiths.

It's tricky - if you don't know what you want, then a framebuilder like me probably can't help you much 😉

So there are two suggestions I have:

- Pick a bike you really like riding, but aesthetically it's not all that great, and have a similar frame hand-crafted for you. It'll ride the same, but be lighter and a work of art - fillet-brazed instead of TIG welded perhaps, with those little hand touches that make it individual and yours.

- Go on a framebuiding course, and build your own bike, there's nothing like riding on a bike you've built yourself.

English cycles? Lovely bikes!

Buy an Inbred. Go somewhere amazing

I started building my own because I knew the fit I liked but wanted a bike with what was then considered unusual / difficult geo. So I started with the reason rather than the dream (and a desire not to explain what I wanted to someone else).

Ampthill (hi John) - your experience is exactly why I've built a few frames but still nervous about tackling forks. Also extremely cautious of head tube details / attachment for similar reasons.

I build loads of forks, but definitely need to over-engineer them - with a frame you have a bit of leeway, if a steerer snaps it's veey, very serious. I think it's interesting (and probably sensible) that lots of framebuilders use off-the-shelf forks especially on lightweight bikes. Companies who are making thousands of carbon forks can do a lot more testing than a framebuilder building a few.

Field cycles that's all you need I can build frames and id actually pay that guy if I wanted a steel road frame

Mick Gary helfrich who's often regarded as the godfather of the Ti bike once said he's actually scared to ride his own bikes incase one of the welds went, even he said it was completely unfounded but its one of those things I suppose

Hi Mike

I don't think the day job helps my paranoia.....

So far the only thing I've had develop a tiny crack was a very heavily stressed seat tube joint where I hadn't sleeved, got it a bit hot and then reamed out an already rather thin tube (so I always expected problems there one day). And I'm still riding it - the crack smiles and keeps me company 🙂

I've cut up a few brazed frames (Peugeot internal brazing and a couple of lugged ones) and always amazed at what actually holds together without any problems (one lugged one was awful inside).

I'd agree with you about Harry and the other Field collaborators - a very interesting group of guys doing rather nice work.

http://www.fieldcycles.com/

I build loads of forks, but definitely need to over-engineer them - with a frame you have a bit of leeway, if a steerer snaps it's veey, very serious.

I see that sort of thing quoted quite often and I don't buy into it. If a headtube comes off a bike it's no less serious than if a steerer snaps. And I know you don't really mean this Ben but there's an implication there that suggests you (the builder, not you personally) aren't completely confident in what you're doing and you're willing to take a risk on a frame but not a fork.

I hate building forks. I find it dull and repetitive. There's also a disproportionate amount of work in a fork when building a full bike (at least with our forks anyway) which makes it appear to be less worthwhile financially. I suspect that's why a lot of builders spec a carbon fork, it saves them time/money and they can make an additional margin with the fork sale.

Victims of accidents are probably terrible people to have opinions on these things

I'd say that the difference between a fork and a head tube is that you've got alot more chance of spotting a problem with a head tube before it fails. My steerer had a crack that had been there long enough to show corrosion. But it was under the crown race of the headset

I've not really seen many head tube failures but in my head I find it hard to imagine the whole lot going at once as its to separate junctions

I see that sort of thing quoted quite often and I don't buy into it. If a headtube comes off a bike it's no less serious than if a steerer snaps. And I know you don't really mean this Ben but there's an implication there that suggests you (the builder, not you personally) aren't completely confident in what you're doing and you're willing to take a risk on a frame but not a fork.

I've seen quite a few repair jobs where one head tube joint has failed - the rider has had a chance to stop and wobble off without injury. Because there's two tubes, unless they fail simultaneously (big crash scenario) there's a decent chance for the rider to spot the problem and stop.

But all the people I know who have had broken steerers (usually cheap carbon forks ironically) have had serious crashes.

I agree with you about forks being dull to build - not looking forward to the batch of 5 I have to get started on 😉

Dario Pegoretti explains steel

Good video, but forks spinning in lathes always make me wince 😉

Anyway, this was me yesterday, brazing dropouts, bending blades and brazing crowns. Now today got to put the forks together.

[img] [/img]

If you haven't seen this yet it is worth a watch. Basically it is the film to go with the book mentioned above - All about the Bike. Rob lives just down the road and we often get to hit the trails for an evening ride. When discussing the bike he built for the book he points out that it actually cost far less than one might imagine, and certainly far less than many "off the peg" boutique bikes out there. Nice bit of inspiration for you. It is a shame Rob is much smaller than me as I would love to give the bike a run one day.

If you don't want custom but want a Genisis Volare 953 road bike frame and enve fork for just over a grand:
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m90b185s804p11759/GENESIS_Volare_Reynolds_953_Stainless_Steel_Mechanical_Road_Race_Frameset_2014/RS_GB/34292?gclid=CJaVqLTnx8ECFSUewwod93wAcQ

English cycles? Lovely bikes!

long waiting list,

he also spannered himself in a road race

http://www.englishcycles.com/news/20-july-2014/

I decided I wanted a custom steel road frame for my 40th, saved up, put my name on the waiting list of a well known english builder (together with a substantial deposit)....and waited....and waited....
After a couple of years (and my birthday) had passed and there was still no sign of any kind of final design or completion date I eventually had to threaten him with small claims court to get my money back.

I bought a Van Nicholas Ti frame for less than the custom steel and subsequently taught myself to braze. No. 1 has got over 2000kms on it and no cracks, and I've just picked up No.2 from the painters....

Anyway, if I was in your position I'd book myself onto Dave Yates course, there really is nothing like the feeling of riding a bike that you designed, cut, filed and brazed yourself.

More forks in lathe

Meet the maker :
Rourke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxwPyLgIeoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4fnqOaaX0E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFdwBs5sGCY

Mercian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-daZ8twO9KQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r00VpgIXF8

Demon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlKkldKZrYY

Donhou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyqSLRk1OM8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wexmQaDGpyo

Ricky Feather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbSH9MsiDyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnCIYjDymfs

Dave Yates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXtGxLhYSm8

Robin Mather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmLRa8yBo-E

http://www.richardsachs.com/site/how-frames-are-made/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gb6TKNqS9Q
http://www.framebuilding.com/custom_uk_bicycle_framebuilders.htm

The Bicycle Academy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jIpBPT76P0
http://www.thebicycleacademy.org/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/10940835/Bike-building-its-all-about-your-frame-of-mind.html

OP you're being far too rational!

I do know what you mean though because unless you know exactly what you want you feel like you may be taking an expensive punt on something that might not be "magic" when you ride it or just a bit "meh".

I talked myself out of an Eriksen or Potts hardtail (I'd wanted one for 10 + years) because I came to the conclusion I didn't need another one and I couldn't decide on what geo to go for.

On the other hand, I've convinced myself that my old roadbike won't take guards so that's turning in to an excuse for a custom steel roadbike.

To invest a large chunk of cash in a frame this time I need some "emotional" reason, and I like the idea of having something "locally" made.

I'd considered Rourke, Mercian and Field and decided on Field partly because I knew one of them (plus they look fantastic). Then I realised I'd overlooked Sword cycles. The guy is ex Mercian and I like the fact that he's really local to me and he works out of a garage. I'm going to copy my current bike completely geometry wise as it's set up perfectly for me. I also like the fact he used cromaworks for the paint (as do Field).

[url=swordcycles.co.uk/about/]Sword CyclesSword Cycles[/url]
[url= http://www.bespoked.cc/framebuilderoft9.html ]Bespoked interview and pics[/url]

I think the point I'm trying to make is that unless there's an emotional attachment or a big "want it" screaming in the back of your head, I'd hold on to the cash and wait 'till it kicks in (it will at some point). Then you'll get the buzz :).

How much is it then for an average 'Field Cycles' frame then?

I hate it the way the vast majority of custom frame builders don't quote any sort if price just contact me.

I don't know how they can command such high prices for steel, sometimes well north of £2000 when there are very well respected uk frame builders who will build you a full custom frame for £350 with Reynolds tubing:

http://www.steve-goff-frames.co.uk/frames.shtml

Some of the new 'upstarts' to frame building seem to charge a lot for a steel frame and while I'm glad to see so many new frame builders out there I certainly wouldn't want to pay some of those prices when you are getting one of the first handful of frames, I want the 5000th frame out of your workshop and all the knowledge, experience and learning that comes with it. A pretty paint job is great but it doesn't make a bike ride well. (I wanted both so bought a pegoretti)
Recently had a Chesini road frame in columbus spirit built up which is everything I wanted it to be. Basically a slightly stiffer, cheaper version of my pegoretti with modern attributes like over size fork, internal brake cabling etc.
That would have included a qualified Retul bike fit if needed.

I wouldn't dismiss an Italian built frame, they have been doing it quite a while and make some great tube sets

Well not sure how they make money off of 600 quid for a 853 tubing, all the parts for mine cost me £450, doesnt leave a lot of space for consumables and time!

I'd personally if not making my own go and see Lee Cooper, he is down to earth and has been doing it for ages, quoted £800 for 853 steel mountain bike (with my getting the fancy 142x12 drop outs)

there are very well respected uk frame builders who will build you a full custom frame for £350 with Reynolds tubing

He must be dong that as a hobby or something.

Last I checked a coupla hundred for 853 alone

Saw a good video on Facebook from soul craft cycles , tried to link it but couldn't. I'd have one , given the chance I'd go slack and long travel.

He must be dong that as a hobby or something.

Steve Goff has been making road frames since prob before most of the current new school crop of frame builders were even in school.

Steve Goff has been making road frames since prob before most of the current new school crop of frame builders were even in school.

And he'll be doing it until he drops dead if he's really charging those prices 😆

If someone can get a Reynolds Steve Goff bike for £350 and deliver it to me in the next 6 months I'll send you £700 back.

I want the 5000th frame out of your workshop and all the knowledge, experience and learning that comes with it.

this ^^^^^ if i had stayed in the USA for a few more years BITD that wouldn't have been far off the mark

it looks like the website might be out of date, says forks from 60 quid? can you buy a fork from a manufacturer for 60 quid?

If someone can get a Reynolds Steve Goff bike for £350 and deliver it to me in the next 6 months I'll send you £700 back.

I would send the bike back, who wants a stovepipe 525 frame that's a wet noodle and weighs 21lb

Columbus Tusk carbon forks available on Ribble for £70 and that's with then making a good profit.

I know somebody who had one built a couple of years ago maybe 2. Lovely job, full custom with original 531c (proper stovepipe! Prob won more Tour de Frances than any other frame material) frame and forks with plenty of braze on for less than £500

He can't be making a living doing that, it must be a retirement hobby or something.

I want the 5000th frame out of your workshop and all the knowledge, experience and learning that comes with it. A pretty paint job is great but it doesn't make a bike ride well.

Mine was the second MTB frame that the builder made (his own being the first). He's made a few road frames. I've enjoyed being a guinea pig to be honest, and my fillet brazed frame cost at a helluva lot less than some Indy Fab with geometry straight out of 1991. My builder had no biases so I was on my own to do whatever I wanted with the frame design, although he offered advice along the way based on his knowledge of the materials, bend profiles of the tubes etc.

I certainly wouldn't discount a 'start-up' if you know that they could be trusted, will stand behind their work and the price reflects experience.

stovepipe 525 frame that's a wet noodle and weighs 21lb

I have a robin mather custom mtb. Had it ten years. Still rocks and I Love it.

To the OP. Make sure you know EXACTLY what you want and think about how your preferences might change in the next ten years before you order. In 2006 I bought my dream custom Ti frame which I absolutely loved until I got a 29er. I'd never sell the Ti bike but it's been by far my least ridden bike for the last couple of years.

With MTB 'standards' changing so frequently I'd advise getting a road or CX frame as the 'bike for life'.

MrSmith - Member

If someone can get a Reynolds Steve Goff bike for £350 and deliver it to me in the next 6 months I'll send you £700 back.

I would send the bike back, who wants a stovepipe 525 frame that's a wet noodle and weighs 21lb

Bit harsh that, I've had one custom frame and one frame refurbished by Steve and they been fine. Just because someone doesn't have interesting facial hair and charge "I saw you coming" prices doesn't mean they do a bad job. Cycling used to be a working class sport and there are people like Steve who'll still be serving that market long after some framebuilders have returned to IT middle management or wherever they came from...

I’m sure his oversize 853/columbus spirit frames are spot on, i was commenting on using small o/d thick walled 1950’s tubing to make a bike frame, steel has moved on bit since then

Cycling used to be a working class sport

Well, yes and no - find an original Hetchins price list, or any quality brand from the '50s say, and the bikes are very expensive as a factor of average wages. Even a bog-standard Raleigh from then is the equivalent of £700-£1000, and that's for a mass-produced bike not a custom one.

I have no experience of this framebuilder's work as far as I know, so I can't comment on the quality of his work. What I do doubt is that he can make a sensible living from charging that much for a custom frame.

Bit harsh that, I've had one custom frame and one frame refurbished by Steve and they been fine. Just because someone doesn't have interesting facial hair and charge "I saw you coming" prices doesn't mean they do a bad job. Cycling used to be a working class sport and there are people like Steve who'll still be serving that market long after some framebuilders have returned to IT middle management or wherever they came from...

Yeah, on reflection it probably was a bit harsh. The truth is I don't really understand how it works. I don't mean to put the guy down. I'm sure he's built way more frames than I and I'm sure he's very good at what he does. It does make you think though that if he's making £100 on a frame, and he wants to clear an £18K salary he's going to be building and painting 3 or 4 bikes per week. That's a lot of work for £18k. I don't really know. It's all guesswork I suppose.

I've seen loads of Stoaters, etc by Shand bikes and some from Macavity's list of others so how the hell do you place some of the lower tier builders in the same league there's some on this list that have built one frame and tried to forge some kind of image from it, complete bobbins!

I’m sure his oversize 853/columbus spirit frames are spot on, i was commenting on using small o/d thick walled 1950’s tubing to make a bike frame, steel has moved on bit since then

Smaller OD maybe, but my Reynolds catalogue from 1994 ish says:-

531C top tube 0.8/0.5 wall. Down tube 0.9/0.6 wall. Seat tube 0.8/0.5. Seatstay 0.5. Chainstay 0.9.

Today's fancy tubes aren't [i]that[/i] much thinner, and the larger diameters might actually make the final frame heavier (but stiffer).

I got a very posh custom pub bike.

I figured mtb fashions and standards will come and go but I'll always need to get to the pub.

there's some on this list that have built one frame and tried to forge some kind of image from it, complete bobbins!

I've seen some first frames that have been excellent (some shown on here) and some frames from very experienced builders that have been pretty shoddy. So I don't think you can generalise like that.

But I agree, there is a bit of the hipster beard-and-cool-workshop aspect to some builders, yes 😉

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, work and life has been a tad busy of late.

Thanks for all the suggestions and food for thought.

This is very unlike me as I'm normally like a bull in a China shop, but for once I'm very much taking my time on research etc.

Think I'll look at getting a CX which I can also use for road duties and bit of touring.

Although going bonkers on my full susser puts the biggest smile on my face, I do enjoy riding the cross, it's a do it all bike which I could still see me enjoying in 20-30 years time (and hopefully more).

Thanks again GL.

I'm a bit late, but here's my 2p.
A custom bike can be lots of things, it can be a pretty paintjob, it can be a solution for a hard to fit person, it can be about being different.
I think it's all those things, but it's about the rider, about who you are, how much you weigh, how fit you are, where and how you ride. What you want.
I think it's not just about the building a frame, though it's important.
It's about understanding, listening.
About angles, weight distribution and pedaling style.

Translating that into a bike.

We're all unique individuals, so we all have slightly different needs and wants.

Enough words,

here's my latest, on one of my local climbs.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]
As much as love bikes, as vehicles, objects, craft, I think they're tools, for riding.

A custom bike should be a better tool.
It can cost more, or less, but it's not the point, the point is to ride.

The real cost of a bike, any bike, is the time we spend riding it.

For me as a builder, the real point of a custom bike is a better riding experience.

[img] [/img]
You can see [url= http://revanchebikeco.wordpress.com/ ]more[/url]

A custom bike should be a better tool.
It can cost more, or less, but it's not the point, the point is to ride.

This ^^

I ride my CX bike all year around, I might not know much about geometry and different types of Steel, but I can see what works and what doesn't work with regard to the "use ability" and durability of the bike.

Not only do I want something that looks a tad different, pretty, but is also up to the job I intend for it.

Exactly, bikes are meant for riding.
there's a bit of show going on, and that's fine.
we're all proud of our bikes, and rightfully so, they're gorgeous elegant machines.

But the main thing, is that they be fit for purpose.

And what's fit for purpose changes, because we're all a bit different.

I had a similar decision for my 40th. My advice is get a good bike fitting and if you are of normal proportions an off the peg bike or frame might do. Custom is an expensive option so if you can get a production frame/bike that fits and does what you want, custom my not be good value. There are some nice frames available e.g. Gunnar.
I ended up with a production road frame (Salsa Pistola), built up with a range of nice bits.

We ARE all different. We're all individuals