The devil is in the details. Or is it the genius? No matter. We’ll figure it all out together, but in the meantime, here’s an overview of some of the design details you’ll want to think about.
WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS BIKE?
Maybe you just want to ride with friends on paved roads, bike paths, or even dirt roads. What’s the terrain like? Flat, hilly, mountainous? A little of some and a lot of another?
Perhaps you like to do supported bike tours — you just ride enjoy riding your bike from place to place and someone else worries about carrying the gear. Or maybe you want to load up and ride self-supported on that dream trip you’ve have in mind.
Maybe you’re looking for a bike that’s lighter than your current bike. Or a bike that’s easier to get on and off. If you can imagine it, a custom bike can usually do it!
What kind of gearing are you considering? Think about the gearing you have now. Is it adequate? Are the high gears fast enough; the low gears low enough?
Speaking of gearing, are you considering electronic shifting? It’s easy on the hands compared to manual shifting, even though it’s bit more expensive.
How about brakes? Disc brakes are becoming more and more common. They perform really well in wet weather or on gnarly downhills. And wider tires fit easily on a bike with disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes require very little hand strength to operate compared to caliper brakes. Disc brakes do tend to be fussy, but some riders don’t mind that.
All of this is to say you can have your cake and eat it, too. As a designer, I don’t dictate your choices. I help you nurture them into the bike that meets your goals and then some! Together, we’ll measure many times before the first steel tube is mitered. We’ll learn from each other and the final product will be better because of it.
Here’s a sampling of some recent bikes I’ve designed. Yes, there’s a lot of variety here — that’s the goal! Every rider is different!
COMPONENTS
Triple? Compact? 1X? Mechanical or electronic shifters? Disc or caliper brakes? So many options, so many ways to configure them. You can even mix and match. For example, the components of a touring bike can be used on a road bike. A triple on a racing bike?!? Why not, if that’s what you want.
Many other component options are available, like S&S couplers, a carbon fiber fork, or an internally geared hub, just to name a few.
I use Shimano and SRAM components. My wheels are built by Velocity. Other components come from René Herse, Schwalbe, Wound Up, Enve, Thomson, and Velo Orange, to name a few.
COLOR
Ah, the best part! Choose your color or color combo from these stock colors. Want some styling ideas? Check this out. Still don’t see anything that turns you on? No problem: I can send you a book with hundreds of color choices. Are we having fun yet?
FRAME DESIGN
Don’t worry; you don’t need to know all of this—that’s my job. But I’ve found quite a few of you are genuinely curious about the process. So here are some videos to help you see how it works.
PRICING
Prices start at $5000 depending on the components. This includes custom geometry, a single stock color, shipping (in the continental U.S.), and assembly and fitting by a professional bicycle dealer of your choice. Sales tax only applies to bikes shipped to a New York State address.
GT@georgenaterry.com 802-861-7627