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chumbacabra

i am 5'8" and 220 and looking at getting a 29 steel hardtail. Since the flex in the steel is going to be my suspension and I am heavy, I am wondering if you guys think that a custom built steel frame will give me a better ride? I am concerned that a production frame may flex too much while pedaling. I know that a good custom builder can address this, but will I notice a difference?
Would anyone suggest a custom frame builder?

HUGH

I always suggest custom!! How much you got??

HUGH

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http://www.thepathbikeshop.com
http://www.wheelbuilder.com

DeeZee

Unless you have freakish body parts. (super short legs, long arms) there are many many production frames that would be just fine.

I went back and fourth on production vs custom and it came down to:

1. There were prouction frames that fit me well.
2. Custom is $$$$$$$$$

If a production frame fits I say get it and roll your $$$$ into a nice wheelset.

Oh check out, Niner, Voodoo, Q-Ball, Kona (to name a few)

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Red Hot Sloth
"where I grew up bling bling would get you shot, same with the lycra"

Dirtmistress "Hey! I resemble that remark! I was born in Berkeley and have the chin hairs to prove it!!"

chumbacabra

The financing time frame will depend on how much I spend. I'm putting money away each month.

What I worry about is not proportions, but weight. If a production bike is put togehter to ride nice for a 150# rider, how will it ride with me bending its back.

DeeZee

Dude I am 225! Don't worry about it

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Red Hot Sloth
"where I grew up bling bling would get you shot, same with the lycra"

Dirtmistress "Hey! I resemble that remark! I was born in Berkeley and have the chin hairs to prove it!!"

Geronimo

Get a custom Retrotec and let me ride it.

Chewyeti

i have two CHEAP steel frames i BEAT on. ZION's were jensonusa's cro-mo frame. Bang for the buck is insane! I weigh about a 230 and i huck it...hammer it... and beat on it... it keeps coming back for more.

that being said... i think just about any steel frame would work for ya...

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Chewy THE Yeti Call me Chewy or Aaron
THE STABLE: Kona coiler, Zion 737 29er (geared), Zion 737 SS ...
LOUD HUBS>>>SAVE BUBBS

chumbacabra

I talked with one of the guys at sycip. He said that customization has more to do with dimensions, not as much to do with weight of the rider. This leads me to believe that it would be better to get a production frame and use other moneys to build up the bike.

DeeZee

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Red Hot Sloth
"where I grew up bling bling would get you shot, same with the lycra"

Dirtmistress "Hey! I resemble that remark! I was born in Berkeley and have the chin hairs to prove it!!"

singleminded

Custom can take a looooonnnnng time. When do you want to ride the bike......
Just a thought...custom is nice. My Phil Wood is custom w/std geo but I got to pick what I wanted on the frame and paint job

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Eric

"Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit"

0gravity

Most frames have warranties. Shop around for the better ones.

HUGH

If you had a sales person tell you that I would not buy from the company!! I think the weight of the rider has a lot to do with how a custom builder builds a frame.
That being said call Seven,Moots, or IF and talk to them about ride/fit and how different tube sets affect the ride/feel of the bike. I have had 4 custom frames made for me over the last few years. My opinion is that its worth the extra cash and the wait.

HUGH

__________________
http://www.thepathbikeshop.com
http://www.wheelbuilder.com

CPATCRASH

Agreed. I had a stock steel IF a few years back. Overall it was a great bike. Had I ordered custom I would have gotten a stiffer BB, a longer top tube and more stand over. Maybe get a inexpensive steel frame and then ride it and note your likes and dislikes. It would be money well spent and you could then get what you want. Carl Strong makes a very nice steel frame!

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Cowboy.
http://www.thepathbikeshop.com/

Big Guy

Watch for lateral flex on the frame, I am 265lb, when I tried the Kona hardtail, it would flex so much under power going up cholla that the tire would rub sideway on the chainstay while pedaling out of the saddle. I finally bought the Kona Hey Hey which is much stronger laterally.

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Gravity is on my side
2008 STR Weight-Loss Challenge: 1/1/08 = 275.5 lbs | 3/04/08 = 265 lbs

thephat

Steel tubing is not all created equal.

If you want a custom steel frame with tubing selected for your needs, but don't want to spend tons of money, try Denis Duty. He builds out of his garage in Tustin. He is a super good guy, and he will help you pick materials for your frame. I have 2 Duty frames, and lots of folks from the shop ride them. You would not be the first clyde. The frames are usually well under $1000 even with nice tubes.

If you are interested, drop me a pm, and I will give you his number. He also does repairs, single speed conversions, and disc brake tab aditions.

CPATCRASH

The flex wasn't caused by your weight. I think it was your calf muscles. You could kick start a jet engine with those things!

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Cowboy.
http://www.thepathbikeshop.com/

DeeZee

That is a good price if he uses high quality steel. At one point I had a Niner (Reynolds 853) and Q-Ball (????)

The Niner felt way nicer

I agree with HUGH. Start off with a production frame and go from there.

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Red Hot Sloth
"where I grew up bling bling would get you shot, same with the lycra"

Dirtmistress "Hey! I resemble that remark! I was born in Berkeley and have the chin hairs to prove it!!"

thephat

He really hooks it up on the price. We are not talking about IF/Moots/Seven/insert super high end solo frame builder quality. His welds are not like fine jewelry or anything, but he has been welding for like a quarter of a century, and his bikes ride real nice, and hold together. They ride strait too. I have done a vq on my Duty.

1FG rider

Denis did the modifications to my Schwinn cruiser frame and offered to build a 29er frame for me as well. Quality tubing and whatever specs you needed, however not knowing what I wanted in a 29er frame at the time I opted for a Niner until I could get a sense of what I needed. He's a really good guy, works out of his garage in Tustin and if anything ever happened to my SIR, I'd have Denis weld up a custom frame for me.

WarPony

I'm riding a Duty single-speed 29er now, it's truly a great bike. Tubing is all hand selected for my weight and riding style. It's a light, stiff frame with just enough compliance in the right places.