Quote Originally Posted by nscrbug View Post
I totally understand the reasons for going "custom", as many of you have suggested. However, I have this unreasonable "fear" about a custom bike. This will probably sound silly to most of you, but...somewhere in the back of my mind, I have this notion that IF I were to go to a custom builder...go through the entire process of measuring, fitting, picking components, and what not...have the bike built up to MY specs...only to discover that it doesn't fit perfectly and I will still have some little annoying pain issues anyway. I would be SO majorly disappointed if I had spent all that time, money, and waiting...only to end up not LOVING the bike. Weird, I know......but that's how my brain operates.
I've had this fear myself as well. Up until my current shop (GO SG and the Jedi Master Chris!!!!) and I'm excitedly awaiting my new custom frame.

It seems that for you, right now, you may not be loosing any time you haven't already lost given the lack of bikes available.

A custom bike won't really cost any more than what you were looking at stock either, which is nice.

That just leaves the nagging problem of trusting the fit.

I chose to go to an experienced, trained, expert, amazing fitter who then worked with the bike company (well, is working with). But regardless of whether or not you go that route or to a good, trusted, educated builder; you aren't going to mess the bike up by it being "your" specs. Yea, you get exactly what you want, but the pros make sure it's going to fit and not hurt.

In my case that meant a 3hr fitting session with Chris the Jedi Master and another 30min to an hour discussing further what I wanted out of the bike and other little details. He's spent the last few weeks with the builder honing geo and other specs to be just perfect, not me. No doubt in my mind that the bike won't be everything I ever dreamed of.

It may be worth chatting with some builders/fitters and seeing if you don't end up finding someone you trust/are comfortable with. You might be surprised; I was (I'd previously sworn I'd never get a custom bike).