To go Custom or not...do today's mass-produced OTS bikes allow good enough geometry?

[lph]

You can do a lot with a good fitting. I've fit four bikes to my needs without any trouble, but I'm an average size and probably an easy fit. I had never heard of custom builds before I came here, and I would personally not spend my money on a custom. No gripes on anyone who chooses to, and I can see the appeal of a unique bike built for you, but I'm just not that interested in having The Bike. I wrench myself and switch parts as needed. If I had a dream bike I would just go all paranoid about scratching the paint job, or annoyed when parts wore out. Now, if I could spend that kind of money and get a bike where the parts never wore out, or could go without maintenance throughout a winter - THAT would my dream bike!

[tulip]

Custom bikes are nice because they are, well, custom and not exactly like any other bike on the road. There are plenty of very nice stock bikes, too. Need vs. Want is something only you can decide, as is your budget. I would say, though, that just because you start going down the custom road does not mean that you give up all limits. You can get amazing custom bikes without having to pay $10k.

I have ridden bikes for 30 years, all stock until I got my Luna. It's handmade but it's not custom built for me. I bought it from the builder already made, but she said that it's very close to what she would have made for me. It's a dream to ride (it's steel with carbon fork and seat stay). My other bike is a Bike Friday that was built based on my Luna's measurements. My other bikes are stock bikes and they are great. My next bike will be a stock bike, likely a cyclocross bike. Lunas aren't made anymore; if they were, I'd definitely get another one without a second thought

Can't say anything about electronic shifting as I've never tried it.

Ride as many bikes as you can and learn what you like. I think a Seven in titanium would be delightful, but that's just me. Only you can decide what is best for you at this time.

ETA: on second thought, it sounds like you might need some more experience riding before you go all out. Once you ride more, you can decide what's important to you in a bike. Then you'll have more of an idea of what to get in a custom bike.

[SFLiz]

Custom bikes are nice because they are, well, custom and not exactly like any other bike on the road. There are plenty of very nice stock bikes, too. Need vs. Want is something only you can decide, as is your budget. I would say, though, that just because you start going down the custom road does not mean that you give up all limits. You can get amazing custom bikes without having to pay $10k.

I have ridden bikes for 30 years, all stock until I got my Luna. It's handmade but it's not custom built for me. I bought it from the builder already made, but she said that it's very close to what she would have made for me. It's a dream to ride (it's steel with carbon fork and seat stay). My other bike is a Bike Friday that was built based on my Luna's measurements. My other bikes are stock bikes and they are great. My next bike will be a stock bike, likely a cyclocross bike. Lunas aren't made anymore; if they were, I'd definitely get another one without a second thought

Can't say anything about electronic shifting as I've never tried it.

Ride as many bikes as you can and learn what you like. I think a Seven in titanium would be delightful, but that's just me. Only you can decide what is best for you at this time.

ETA: on second thought, it sounds like you might need some more experience riding before you go all out. Once you ride more, you can decide what's important to you in a bike. Then you'll have more of an idea of what to get in a custom bike.

You hit my dilemma on the nose, Tulip - I realize that I need more experience to know what is my perfect fit, but I don't want to get a suboptimal ride in the meantime... I want to enjoy my weekend rides. I don't want to get some $2000 (which is a lot of money-- ridiculous that $2k now seems like it is suboptimal even before I've bought anything) bike and approach my weekend rides without joy at the prospect of jumping on and tackling the hills. It's a catch-22. I buy a less than optimal bike for my recreational use but then sacrifice on my enjoyment because I feel like I'm struggling up hills/ less smoother / lighter roll than I know I've had on better bikes, and then I have to sell this bike that is supposed to help me develop my understanding of riding. I guess it's all a part of growing as a rider - something we all have to figure out on our own. I just have to figure out how I want to balance my learning curve against my pocket book. Thanks for your astute advice.

[Kathi]

Your lack of experience concerns me too but having said that I didn't realize what a well fitting bike was until I got a custom frame. I went through 4 road bikes before I went custom. I spent a lot of money changing stems, handlebars, and a couple of forks, to get a better fit and more comfortable ride.

Granted, I haven't demoed any stock frames since I bought my Serotta 6 years ago. No need to, I have the best fitting bike and components, for me. Little things like the head tube height and seat tube angle were designed for my physical measurements. Campy components, handlebars, seat post, brakes, etc. were chosen specifically for me, by me and my fitter. Even my custom wheels were built with my 105 lbs in mind. I can't think of any of the components, maybe the seatpost, that I have on my bike that would be found on a stock frame. Even my Specialized Ruby saddle would not be there in my size.

The only thing I changed on my custom frame was the saddle, I went from a WTB saddle to a Specialized Ruby. The Ruby is much smaller and a better fit.

My Serotta is the bike I ride the most. I use my stock frame on my trainer and as a backup bike.

I'm not trying to convince you to do custom, maybe you do need to have a stock frame. I went through a lot of agony before I went custom. Today's bikes are better in fit for small riders than they were 6 yrs ago but I doubt if I'd be willing to go back.

[SFLiz]

Very meaningful food for thought - thanks so much Kathi. I would love a Serotta - they truly define excellence and something to strive for next time around perhaps. The LBS that did my fitting does offer custom Serottas but the starting point is just too high at this point (too bad the hubs has to get his bike at same time...if only it were just my purchase, the budget could be doubled....)