Loving my bike...

[tulip]

Ginny, I have one too, and even though it was originally built for someone else, when I went to visit Margo and check out the bike, it ended up fitting me perfectly, so it's just like custom. I wrote the check then and there and had her send it to me. I'd definitely get another one, maybe an Orbit 'cross bike next time, set up for touring.

[elk]

So what is the process?

Do send her your measurements or do you go to a fitter?

and why did you pick Luna than, say, Sweetpea or Terry? Are there other women "only" builders?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So what is the process?

Do send her your measurements or do you go to a fitter?

You take many careful measurements and send them to her. (Unless of course you happen to live near her in Colorado and can go there) It also helps to have someone take pictures of you riding your current bike from the side, so she can see what you are dealing with now. You talk to her on the phone, and describe to her what you like about your current bike's fit, what you don't like, any aches or pains, and what you hope to improve in your new bike, your style of riding and your riding and use goals for the new bike, etc.

and why did you pick Luna than, say, Sweetpea or Terry? Are there other women "only" builders?

I did look carefully at many steel bike builders. It actually took me about 8 months to decide.
I liked the idea of a woman builder who knew a lot about the fit problems women tend to have. This was a big factor for me.
I liked SweetPea, but I was not comfortable with how short a time they had been building bikes, as opposed to Luna's 12 years experience. Also, Sweetpea had a wait list of several years for a custom frame, while Luna was only a few months. (for more comparison, a custom Rivendell is several years wait these days as well) At 54, I'm too old to wait several years for a bike that's comfortable. I got my Luna in 5 months, which I thought was good these days.
I found nothing on the Terry site about building a custom frame to individual body measurements. That was important to me, as I was really tired of riding a bike that 'almost' fit me.
Color was important to me as well, and I liked that Luna could get my bike in any color and special design elements I wanted (i designed my own bee logo). I wanted powder coat too, in matte finish. I couldn't get all those options from Terry.
I don't know of other current women steel custom bike builders with years of experience.
Hope this answers?

[tulip]

I had an acquaintance who had a Luna and she just raved about it. I started looking at Margo's website, thinking, "someday..." I had a very serious crash that broke my old Vitus bike, so I was kindof in the market for a new road bike but in no rush because I was only commuting at the time and had not done any road riding for a year since the accident.

On the Luna website, there was this red bike for sale--pre-built, but I thought it would be too small. When I went to Santa Fe (where Margo was until a year or so ago) to visit a friend, I thought I'd just call her up and talk to her about building a bike for me. So I went there and the red bike was there, and she put me on it, and it fit like a glove, so I wrote a check and she sent it to me. I had it built up by Jill at Proteus and then had a fitting. We didn't have to change out any parts, just tweak the seat position.

If you are interested, just call her up and ask. Her website explains the process pretty well, as does Bleeker.

PS: I had not heard of SweetPea before, and I was very enthused that Margo is a woman builder and understands women's fit issues, works solo (not a big factory), former racer, current rider, obviously knows her stuff, makes beautiful bikes. I want to support small builders like her. Oh, and I only want steel bikes.

[SadieKate]

I liked SweetPea, but I was not comfortable with how short a time they had been building bikes, as opposed to Luna's 12 years experience. Also, Sweetpea had a wait list of several years for a custom frame, while Luna was only a few months.

I think your concern about Natalie's experience is valid. Definitely crossed my mind though she does seem to be going about it the right way with excellent mentors and having you work with professional fitters. Totally understand your rationale here.

Just want to say that the wait list is 9 mos not several years.
http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com/blog/get-your-sweetpea/

Margo did a beautiful job with your bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think your concern about Natalie's experience is valid. Definitely crossed my mind though she does seem to be going about it the right way with excellent mentors and having you work with professional fitters. Totally understand your rationale here.

Just want to say that the wait list is 9 mos not several years.
http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com/blog/get-your-sweetpea/

Margo did a beautiful job with your bike.

Thanks SK.
I should mention that when I was making my decision on which builder almost a year ago, the Sweetpea website did state that their custom waiting list at the time was 2 or 3 years. The time frame changes according to how many bikes they have in the pipeline at any given time of course, so apparently now it is (happily) shorter. 9 months is not bad at all in my opinion.
I'm sure Natalie builds wonderful bikes- they certainly look beautifully made.


I was very impressed with Margo's +/- 12 years of experience in building bikes primarily for women- and that (combined with the 5 months wait list and custom finishes) really tipped the scale for me personally.

[ginny]

I don't know about Sweetpea, and I haven't ever had a bike custom made for me, but I like that fenders come with the price, a saddle, and the custom powder coat (don't worry Lisa, not getting exactly the same color - going to get the 'life is good' yellow). I like to feel like, "here's the price, this is all inclusive". Again, I have NO idea about other custom bike makers. I just find the Luna's particularly beautiful and she's just down the road from me, so I can go get measured by her and take the bike home when she's done (she won't be starting until I've saved up the dinero which will take some time...)

[elk]

It's an interesting process....thanks for your comments.

I'm in PDX --where Sweetpea is--- and I think of her kinda like the Sasha White for women...but that may be because her bikes have that distinctive "portland" look that I associate with Vanilla. I love what Richard Sachs said about her in Bicycling, something like... she had a wisdom and soulfulness beyond her years..

Looking at them...from this great distance....they seem to have a different aesthetic..again, Natalie has that retro modern look, while Luna bikes seem more "athletic"...I'm overstating a general impression...but there is a difference. It may be predicated as much on my impression of the people as their bikes...

Georgina Terry has a forum and she mentioned she could build me a decal less lugged gloss black bike....but I don't know about custom....and since I ride that smaller size, I'd have to do those 2 diff. wheels which I'm not wild about...

I started a little side account for squirreling away some money for this...I think it's a great idea ....and I'm so damn fussy about looks, I think it would be an awesome process at the end of which you'd have this amazing bike that was heaven to ride....price per mile? priceless!