Navigating the waters of buying a new bike

[velo]

Honestly, for what you're describing, I would strongly consider a custom steel bike. You'd get the geometry you want (which might be hard with carbon) and, ideally the softer ride you're after. Plus, you could build it up the way you want. It could very well end up cheaper than carbon.

Oh, I'm not ruling anything out at this point, including custom. I'm not looking for a very specific price point, just a general range. Thanks for mentioning it, though, and if you have specific builders you recommend, please let me know!

[indysteel]

Oh, I'm not ruling anything out at this point, including custom. I'm not looking for a very specific price point, just a general range. Thanks for mentioning it, though, and if you have specific builders you recommend, please let me know!

Glad you haven't ruled it out. There are any number of great builders out there. It's too bad Luna is no longer in business (as far as I know). Sniff, sniff.

On my short list of dream builders for steel are Carl Strong, Dave Kirk, Ellis, Spectrum Cycles, Sweetpea, Yipsan (as previously mentioned). I'm sure I'm forgetting some others, and I have some additional names I'd add if Ti is what you're after. I also think Gunnar is a great option if you'd like a custom or semi-custom steel bike that's a bit easier on the pocketbook. For me, part of it comes down to aesthetics. I just prefer some builder's final products over others from kind of a gut reaction. Of course, wait times are a consideration as well. Some of these people are quite backed up.

I went with a custom Ti bike a few years that didn't work out for me as well as I would have liked. Okay; it didn't work out at all. I'm of the mind that it's more of a frame material issue than geometry, but I can't know that for sure. In any event, I'd want to work with a builder that understands the difference between buildng a bike for a 180 pounds guy and a relatively petite woman. Geometry is just one aspect of building; tube selection is another.

Anyway, notwithstanding my experience, I think custom can be a great option, especially if what you want just isn't mass produced or it's important to you to get exactly what you want.

Where do you live if you don't mind me asking? There may be a builder or two in your area that has a good reputation.

[roguedog]

I second Indy's recommendation for builders. Since you're considering various materials, you might want to think about what you love and what you'd like to improve about your current ride and have a conversation with Carl Strong since he is a very, very rare bird in that he works with steel, ti and carbon.

Everyone who has worked with Carl seems to have only the best things to say about the experience. But the same can be said of Mr Kirk and Mr Kellogg (Spectrum) as well. Not as well versed with Ellis, Sweetpea or Yipsan to comment.

If you're not wedded to a particular material, I've heard it said that any good frame builder can use the material to create what suits your taste. However, this is not from my personal experience since I'm still in the "I'm not sure" stage myself.

Indy, sorry to hear you and your frame haven't come to terms.