Custom Built/Fit versus Custom Throw a Bunch of Marketing Driven and Trendy Shit on a Bike….and Ship the Bike to a Customer You Have Never Met Build
Custom BUILD versus Custom BUILT.
The concept of a Custom Build is kind of an all-encompassing catch phrase.
I see a lot of so called Custom Builds that I would just as soon call “take a pretty frame and throw a bunch of the latest hip shit on it.” It’s the frames from companies that have been out for a cup of coffee with parts that have ZERO factual backup data to prove their worthiness.
We do NOT do custom builds. We have been ask to do so and we simply defer. No better way to help someone have buyer’s remorse than to sell them a very expensive bike that isn’t perfect.
So what is perfect then? It when a bike is Custom BUILT for a customer.
What goes into a truly Custom BUILT bicycle and why can we only do two a month………..MAX?
I am not going to answer that per se. What I am going to do in lieu, is tell you what questions NEED to be asked to a client and what parts can be fine-tuned to configure the perfect BUILT bike.
Here we go……………………………
1. Have you been professionally measured by a fitter, and what are those measurements.
2. Are you symmetrical, or are your torso or leg driven?
3. How old are you?
4. How flexible are you?
5. What amount of discomfort are you willing to accept to accomplish your goals……or not? Both a PERFECTLY fine!
6. Where do you do 90% of your riding? Flats, rollers, mountains?
7. Where do you do the other 10% of your riding?
8. Is your natural cadence high, low? What do you like?
1. Frame (geometry/seat tube angle, stack, reach, etc.)
2. Bottom Bracket (Pressfit, Pressfit Thread Together, Threaded)
3. Crank Arm(s) (Length)
4. Chain Ring(s) (Tooth Count/Round/Oval)
5. Pedals (Road/MTB/Platform Size/Axle Length)
6. Cleat (Float/Release Angle)
7. Cassette (Gear Ratio, Top And Bottom Cog)
8. Jockey Pulleys (Crazy but True)
9. Handlebar (Width/Hand Positions/Blips/Rise/Sweep/Drop/Reach)
10. Stem (Length/Rise/Drop/Angle)
11. Seatpost (Setback)
12. Saddle (Width/Length/Material/Tapered/Flat/Lip/No Lip)
13. Wheel (Depth, Internal Rim Width)
14. Tire (Width/TPI/Tanwall (please say Tanwall)
15. Tire Set Up (Tubeless, TPU)
