off-the-peg geometry?

natureboy

Is anyone out there satisfied with their off-the-peg frame geometry?
I would love a cervelo r3 but the top tube is too short.
I am 6'3" so I need a custom frame, but do any regular height riders out there have any problems with their frames?

redddraggon

Nope, I can largely get any frame to fit, altering the stem length, spacer stack height, and setback on the seatpost.

gavintc

I presume that in addition to being tall, you are proportionally longer in the torso than the average. Because, I would contend that simply being 'big' does not make you unusual for standard geometry. I would have thought that you could resolve small differences with a longer stem. I did read somewhere that Bianchi make carbon bikes to order. I think their new T tube system allows them to 'bolt' bits of carbon piping together to make specific frames for their race teams.

natureboy

I used to have a stock 63cm frame, but found the 14cm stem way too far over the front wheel, especially when going down south yorkshires steep, tight and rough descents (kamikaze style!)
Billato and Carrera look to be the best frames at a reasonable(?) cost, so you'll see me on deal or no deal soon!

Monty Dog

You can get custom carbon from DeRosa and Colnago, amongst other - at a prices and for a considerable wait. The likes of Colnago produce something like 14 standard sizes, so unless you possess longer legs or torso, you should find something suitable. The only problem I find with standard geometries is the opposite of yours - on smaller frames, the headtube length is often excessively long which makes getting a sufficient drop to the bars difficult which limits the choice.

natureboy

As far as I know, there are some english framebuilders who produce custom stems.

I know colnago and derosa make custom frames but they don't go out of their way to advertise it, so I don't think they would be too keen.
An independant colnago dealer said I might not get what I'd asked for!

I think billato and carrera make their own tubing, so can take account of your riding style and weight, which I don't think bigger manufacturers would have the time and wiillpower to do

portuguese mike

Parlee, Serotta & Guru all do custom carbon frames - the first 2 are v. expensive (but gorgeous) the Guru's are a bit cheaper.

If you go to decent bike shop like Cyclefit and get measured up they will be able to tell you if any given standard frame will fit using a normal range of stems/spacers/setaposts (inline or layback version). I have a diagram whic sets out all the key dimensions of my ideal position (relationship between saddle & BB, saddle to bars, handlebar drop, sadlle height etc) and it's relatively straight forward to work out if they can be achieved with a given frame.

natureboy

Parlee frames have had a great write up, but because they're lugged they're stuck with one diameter of tubing, which doesn't help with Big frames.

Billato and carrera mitre and bond tube joints without lugs, so aren't limited to tube sizes.
Billato does a big aero downtube from their tt frame for a stiff front end and carrera does a custom carbon tt frame!

The billato is £2k vs parlee and serrota's £3500+
And I'm sure they wouldn't perform any better.

I've tried conventional frames, as well as combinations of stems, spacers and posts, butthey don't work.

My custom steel dolan fits very well, but its heavy and flexy.

Anybody out there got a custom carbon bike?

portuguese mike

Parlee does actually have a choice of tube sets (4 i think) with increasing levels of stiffenss - have a look on their website or goive bespoke cycles a call. Having said that i think Billato are excellent as well (and as you say much cheaper).

meagain

I've relatively long legs for my modest height but as Redddraggon puts it "Nope, I can largely get any frame to fit, altering the stem length, spacer stack height, and setback on the seatpost".

Happily ride anything from 16" s/s mtb to 22.5" trad old horizontals. Only 3 measurements matter to me: c b/b to saddle, saddle nose to centre bars and saddle vertical height above bars.

kellys_heroes

hi there.for what its worth i have the same problem as you.being 6`5" tall. i have had 3 custom frames made over the last 10 years. i currently ride a Custom Litespeed Ultimate frame it`s a 64cm centre to centre. its a nice frame but its not the best frame ive had.that would be a Custom Made Colnago Master. i wanted the extended head and seat lugs to make the frame that bit stiffer.dunno if you remember but it was mid 90`s when i first saw Edwig Van Hooydonck of the Superconfex team who always rode Colnago`s he was about 6ft5 tall so that gave me the idea.i bought me frame from Maestro in Bognor Regis gave him the sizes over the phone and he said it would take 12 weeks....and 12 weeks later it arrived...ok its a pain the wait but i can honestly say the Colnago is the best bike i have ridden.and it fitted me perfect..also bought a Ciocc from maestro too but nice frame that it was..it flexed too much for a rider who`s around 14 stone..i know they make Colnago Extreme and the C50 up to a 65cm..hope this helps.

natureboy

Nowadays,for big custom sizes I think carbon is the only way to get the right combination of stiffness, comfort and weight.
I'll save for a billato asap. I fancy taking an easyjet with my bike to the billato factory and discuss my needs in person. "Mmmmmmm, bikepornography"!