I’d recommend getting comfortable and enjoying each moment of the unfolding project you’re about to begin: the process of building a custom bicycle. Every person is different, and every bicycle is too. Every new project calls for a careful study of the rider, alongside a thorough analysis of the geometry for the new bicycle.
1. The first conversation
The first step is a conversation by email, WhatsApp or phone. We’ll talk calmly about the type of bicycle you’re looking for and your characteristics as a rider. We’ll discuss your current bicycle and the previous ones. You’ll tell me about your physical and technical condition, both climbing and descending, and a wealth of other details. This first step is the moment for us to get to know one another and start building a foundation for the steel frame’s construction. Every detail matters: it’s essential to arrive at a good selection of tubing, a geometry tailored to your needs and a design (paintwork) that matches the personality of the bicycle.
2. The quote
Once we’ve settled all the details, it’s time to begin the frame’s construction. I’ll send you a quote. If you’ve chosen just the steel frame, you’ll pay 50% of it; if you’ve chosen a complete build, you’ll add 100% of the total cost of the components.
If you’ve chosen the complete build option, having the components on hand during construction is essential to check that every component is compatible and fits the frame perfectly, and so achieve a perfect custom bicycle.
If you prefer the frame-only option, I may need to have some of your components on hand during the build process for the necessary checks.
This can prevent complications and problems further down the line. While I do keep some components on hand for these checks during construction, not all of them share the same dimensions. Component makers don’t provide enough information to make it perfect.
3. The bicycle geometry
To build a custom steel frame, I need your biomechanical profile in order to create the first sketch of the frame.
My recommendation, if you don’t already have one, is to visit a clinic where this kind of assessment is carried out. These are of great help when working on the geometry design and finding what best suits your anthropometric profile.
Some clients, for various reasons, can’t access an assessment of this kind. If that’s your case, I’d send you a chart where you can note down a set of measurements to take yourself.
Not having a bike fitting doesn’t mean you won’t have a great custom steel frame; it simply means the build will require more careful work.
4. The construction
Once the geometry design is finalised, I order the materials needed to build the bicycle.
I work with Columbus and Dedacciai steel tubing, Paragon dropouts and other accessories from highly regarded names in the world of steel framebuilding.
The cutting and joining of the tubes is done by hand with a saw and a file. Some are done with other specific tools where very tight tolerances are required.
The brazing is done using the fillet brazing method with brass and silver rod.
Building custom steel frames with the fillet brazing method is characterised by the brazed joints being polished and worked by hand to achieve a perfect finish and invisible tube joints.
The process of building a custom steel bicycle can take around 4–5 months. Sometimes it will be less, sometimes longer: every custom bicycle is different and will take a different amount of time.
At every step you’ll be informed of every detail of the process, and you don’t need to worry about a thing.
The finishing touch: painting the frame
Once the frame construction is complete, it’s sent to the paint shop for the final touch.
This usually adds around 15–20 days to the delivery, but just as with the construction, the complexity of the paintwork design can extend the process.
Once the hand-built bicycle is finished, if you’ve chosen this option, the remaining balance will be due.
I’ll send you the frame so you can build it up and start enjoying your custom bicycle.
If, on the other hand, you’ve chosen a complete build, it’s time for the final assembly and to fine-tune everything.
Now you have your unique, distinctive bicycle
Finally, and most importantly, enjoy a unique custom bicycle, a steel frame created by and for you.
At this link you can see some of the bicycles I’ve built.