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Custom, Specialty, and Limited-Production Bicycle Suppliers

Many of these are small companies named after the owner, who is also the main builder. They thrive on providing personal attention and following customers' whims.
Larger companies produce stock framesets (almost always handbuilt) that can be customized with paint jobs and components.
Still another type (indicated by "dist.", for distributor, following the company name) imports frames that are built into bikes by dealers. If you have a company in mind and don't see it here, it was probably listed in our production bike buyer's guides in March (mountain bikes) or April (road bikes, hybrids, 700C tandems, and recumbents).

Here's how to read the listings:
The company name is followed by contact information. Codes for frame materials and type of bikes are translated in the key at the end of this file. The "Brands" category lists both brand and model names. "Number Built" is the total number of frames the company has constructed since it started. "Wait" is the typical order-to-delivery period for a custom-built frame. Price reflects frame cost only. Next we tell if the company offers complete bikes, and if it repairs and repaints frames. (We omit negative responses in these 2 categories.) Finally, we asked each company to provide a short statement on what makes it special. These appear as quotes.

KEY:

Here's how to decipher the abbreviations for frame materials and types of bikes:

--Frame Materials--

  • TGST=TIG-welded steel
  • LGST=Lugged steel
  • WDAL=Welded aluminum
  • BDAL=Bonded aluminum
  • FBST=Fillet-brazed steel
  • LGCF=Lugged carbon fiber
  • WDTI=Welded titanium
  • OPCF=One-piece carbon fiber
  • LGTI=Lugged titanium

--Bike Types--

  • MB=Mountain bike
  • MB/S=Mountain bike with front suspension
  • MBS/FR=Mountain bike with front and rear suspension
  • RR=Road race and triathlon
  • HY=Hybrid RS=Road sport
  • TM/700C=Tandem with 700C wheels
  • TM/26=Tandem with 26-inch wheels
  • TR=Touring
  • WM=Womens
  • RC=Recumbent
  • TK=Track
  • TL=Trials
  • JV=Juvenile

A.A. Vittorio Cycles (dist.) 538 Wood Ave., Woonsocket, RI 02895; 401/765-3275 * Frame Materials: LGST * Types: RR, RS * Brands: Grandis * Number Built: 50,000+ * Years Experience: 58 * Wait for Custom: 3 months * Price Range: $890-$1,210 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Road racing and triathlon. "All lugs, bottom bracket shell, fork crown, brake bridge, and dropouts are specific proprietary designs of Grandis. Custom tubing made for Grandis by Columbus."

Action-TecBox 417, Silverado, CA 92676; 714/649-2801 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: MB/S * Brands: Action-Tec Frameworks * Number Built: 20 * Years Experience: 1 * Wait for Custom: 1 month * Price Range: $1,595+ * Repaints/repairs Action-Tec bikes only * Specialty: Lightweight aluminum with Action-Tec ProShock. "Complete bike weight with shock, 22 pounds."

Adams Trail-A-Bike Norman Rogers Airport, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7M 4M1; 613/384-5568 * Frame Materials: TGST, FBST * Types: JV * Brands: Trail-A-Bike * Number Built: 2,000 * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $299-$630 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Single wheel bike/trailer for kids. "Our product is designed to attach to the seatpost of a lead bicycle. Children can then ride behind their parents, pedaling or coasting. Trail-A-Bike is less expensive than a tandem, not a permanent change to the bike."

American Bicycle Manufacturing 3102 S. Roosevelt Rd., St. Cloud, MN 56301; 612/251-1641 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, TM/26, TL * Brands: American * Number Built: 2,000 per year * Years Experience: 13 * Wait for Custom: 1 month * Price Range: $800-$2,600 * Specialty: Welded aluminum racing frames. "American Bicycle is the premier 6061 aluminum manufacturer, but we will try any metal. We're big enough for quantity, small enough for quality." American Flyer Inc. 28 Fox Lane, Carriage House, Mount Kisco, NY 10549; 914/234-3860 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB/S, RR * Brands: T-2 (road), MT-3 (mountain), Crossbon (mountain) * Number Built: 250 * Years Experience: 4 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $1,985-$2,335 lSpecialty: Titanium. "We have the stiffest titanium frames (especially in large sizes) on the market."

Answer Products, Inc. 27460 Avenue Scott, Valencia, CA 91355; 805/257-4411 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: MB/S, MBS/FR * Brands: Manitou * Number Built: 5,000 * Years Experience: 7 * Wait for Custom: Stock only * Price Range:$1,500-$2,000 * Repaints/repairs Manitou only * Specialty: Aluminum mountain bikes. "Answer blends hand-built quality with modern, close-tolerance manufacturing techniques."

Battle Mountain Bikes Box 510, Encampment, WY 82325; 307/327-5952 * Frame Materials: LGCF * Types: MBS/FR * Brands: Tomahawk, Tomahawk VR * Number Built: 50 * Years Experience: 2 * Wait for Custom: 30 days * Price Range: $1,200-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: CNC-machined aluminum, carbon fiber composites. "All aluminum parts are CNC machined for light weight and strength, and are combined with carbon fiber tubes to craft a light yet stiff frameset."

The Bicycle Laboratory: Yamaguchi Bicycles, Inc. Box 10382, Colorado Springs, CO 80932; 719/578-5524 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, TL * Brands: Yamaguchi * Number Built: 4,700 * Years Experience: 19 * Wait for Custom: 2-4 months * Price Range: $936+ * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Track, time trial, funny, special events. "We have built for U.S., Puerto Rican, Finland and Japanese national teams, and U.S. and Finland Olympic teams. We build competition frames and special designs. Yamaguchi frames are handbuilt by Koichi Yamaguchi."

Bilenky Cycle Works, LTD. 5319 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19120; 610/329-4744 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM * Brands: Bilenky, Sterling * Number Built: 2,500 * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: 6-12 weeks * Price Range: $800-$2,500 * Complete bikes available; repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Tandems, traditional sport and touring bikes, and proportionally sized bikes for small, large, or other riders with unusual dimensions. "One of our goals is to make handcrafted bikes affordable. We accomplish this by combining some production techniques with handwork."

Bontrager Cycles 104 Bronson St. #5, Santa Cruz, CA 95062; 408/427-2121 * Frame Materials: TGST * Types: MB, MB/S * Brands: Bontrager * Number Built: 3,000+ * Years Experience: 11 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $799-$999 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Off-road racing. "We're cool! So are our bikes."

Boulder Bicycles, Inc. Box 1400, Lyons, CO 80540; 303/532-0133 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDAL, WDTI * Types: MBS/FR, RR/FR, RS/FR, TM/700C/FR, TM/26/FR, TR/FR, JV/FR * Brands: Defiant, Intrepid, Starship * Number Built: 1,000+ * Years Experience: 4 * Wait for Custom: 4-6 weeks * Price Range: $999-$2,799 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Full suspension. "Not only were we the first company to offer a full-suspension MTB, but we were also the first to offer full-suspension road frames and tandems. We build the widest variety of full-suspension frames in the industry."

Brew Racing Frames 1733 Sutherland Rd., Creston, NC 28615; 910/385-6847 * Frame Materials: TGST * Types: MD, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM, TK, TL * Brands: Brew * Number Built: 1000+ * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: 8-13 weeks * Price Range: $899-$1,723 * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: "Always striving to build the perfect bike. Always trying new materials, new welding techniques and different frame geometries, plus our own down-home Southern hospitality."

Brodie Research and Technology 150-8711 Beckwith Rd., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada V6X-1V4; 604/270-4209 * Frame Materials: TGST * Types: MB, RR * Brands: Brodie * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $585-$750 * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: High-end lightweight steel.

Bruni Bicycles 2923 Sylvan Ave., Baltimore, MD 21214; 410/426-3420 * Frame Materials: FBST, LGST * Types: TM/700C, TM/26, MB, MBS/FR, RS, RR, TT * Brands: Bruni * Number Built: 90 * Years Experience: 6 * Wait for Custom: 4-8 weeks * Price Range: $660-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Tandems, including triples. "Most people assume speed and comfort are incompatible attributes in a bicycle. I like to dispel those assumptions. Besides, tandem stokers really appreciate comfort."

Carbonframes, Inc.

115 Post St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060; 408/459-6777 * Frame Materials: OPCF * Types: RR, RS * Brands: Tetra-Pro, Tetra-Custom, Tetra-Tri * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 6 * Wait for Custom: 3-4 weeks * Price Range: $1,695-$2,195 * Repaint/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Production/custom carbon fiber frames. "Carbonframes manufactures and markets a family of lugless composite carbon frames. Carbonframes' proprietary Fiber Fusion technology provides greater structural integrity and geometry options than offered by conventional approaches."

Castellon Cycles & Designs Suite 12A, 1320 Grand Ave., San Marcos, CA 92069; 619/591-3830 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDAL, LGCF, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, MBS/FR * Brands: Castellon Cycles * Number Built: 2,000+ * Years Experience: 16 * Wait for Custom: 4-6 weeks * Price Range: $1,050-$2,400 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: FBST. "Individually designed and handbuilt frames to fit you and your needs. Have your next bike built the way you want it--from titanium, steel, or aluminum--by a framebuilder with 16 years of experience designing and building frames for discriminating cyclists."

Cherry Bicycles 676 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901; 317/423-4488 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM, TK, TL * Brands: Cherry Bicycles * Number Built: 100+ * Years Experience: 4 * Wait for Custom: 4 weeks * Price Range: $650-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Custom titanium, TIG-welded steel, fillet-brazed steel. "All bikes are handbuilt. 'Fat Boy' road model is half lugged and half fillet brazed. All bikes are designed with simple clean functional lines."

Colombo Imports, Inc. (dist.) 1427 San Marino Ave., Suite 10, San Marino, CA 91108; 818/683-9366 * Frame Materials: FBST, LGST, WDAL, LGCF, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, TK, TL * Brands: Moser, Passoni * Number Built: "Thousands" * Years Experience: 18 * Wait for Custom: 60 days * Price Range: $490-$1,500+ * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Leader AX silver fillet brazed, Custom Ti. "Our frames are made with the most innovative tubing in the world: ORIA. The winning tradition of Moser frames is legendary. Passoni is custom WDTI."

The Colorado Cyclist, Inc. (dist.) 3970 Bijou St., Colorado Springs, CO 80909-9946; 800/688-8600 * Frame Materials: LGST, WDTI, BDAL * Types: RR, MB * Brands: Vitus, Tommasini, Litespeed, Eddy Merckx * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $849-$2,000+ * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Customer direct, full service

Columbine Cycle Works Box 338, Bellvue, CO 80512; 303/224-1168 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, WM, TK * Brands: Columbine * Number Built: 2,700+ * Years Experience: 14 * Wait for Custom: 4 months * Price Range: $1,300-$3,600 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Stainless steel polished filigree lugwork. "We are serious about blending art with function. We build lifetime frames weighing 3+ pounds, with stainless steel dropouts standard, and optional stainless steel ornate lugwork."

Conejo Bicycles 1711 W. Culver, Suite 5, Phoenix, AZ 85007; 602/255-0389 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDAL, WDTI * Types: MBS/FR * Brands: ARS/5, ARS/5Ti * Number Built: 500 * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: 3 weeks * Price Range: $850-$1,550 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Full-suspension mountain bikes. "Our business is different because we build full-suspension mountain bikes that work!" Curve Cycling Components 1224 Sherman Dr., Longmont, CO 80501; 303/449-5113 * Frame Materials: FBST * Types: RR * Brands: Curve * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $2,000-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Complete AerMet 100 silver fillet-brazed road frames. "We are the first company in the world to offer a complete AerMet 100 frame (including stays). We offer a unique sloping top tube road frame to optimize stiffness and light weight."

Cycles LaMoure 416 First St., Cheney, WA 99004; 509/235-2297 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, JV, TL * Brands: LaMoure * Number Built: 200+ * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: 6 weeks+ * Price Range: $850-$1,700+ * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road. "Your choice of tubing, style, and color." Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles 2116 Western Ave., Seattle, WA 98121; 206/441-9998 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Davidson * Number Built: 5,000+ * Years Experience: 21 * Wait for Custom: 60-90 days * Price Range: $695-$2,495 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road racing. "We offer the widest variety of frame styles, geometries, and paint jobs anywhere. We can make it your way. Our unique inside-out brazing method allows us to offer a lifetime warranty on all frames for any use."

Dekker Service

(dist.) 5433 116th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006; 206/641-9639 * Frame Materials: TGST * Types: MB, TR, HY * Brands: Pashley, Alex Moulton * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $899+ * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Unique Pashley line.

Erickson Cycles/Glenn Erickson 6119 Brooklyn NE, Seattle, WA 98115; 206/527-5259 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST, TGST * Types: RR, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Erickson, Signature, Competition * Number Built: 500+ * Years Experience: 21 * Wait for Custom: 3-6 months * Price Range: $1,000-$3,000 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Fancy cut lugs, top-end tandems, incredible paint. "All frames are 100 percent custom, unique and fancy, with beautifully cut lugs. One-person business. Custom fitted stems. Total customer involvement."

Excel Sports Boulder, Inc. (dist.) 2045 32nd St., Boulder, CO 80301; 800/627-6664 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, RR * Brands: Macalu, Simoncini, Bottecchia * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $350-$2,600 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Road racing, ATB racing, affordable quality. "Knowledgeable staff of avid cyclists also provides customers with more than 2,000 of the highest-quality cycling components through UPS delivery from our Boulder headquarters. We specialize in service, quality, and value."

Fat City Cycles Box 218, Somerville, MA 02143; 617/625-4922 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDTI * Types: MB, MBS/FR, MB/S, RR * Brands: Fat Chance * Number Built: 10,000+ * Years Experience: 11 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $725-$2,595 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Quality road and mountain bike frames. "We build each frame with heart and skill in Massachusetts."

Doug Fattic Cycles 914 South Third St., Niles, MI 49120; 616/684-6761 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, JV * Brands: Doug Fattic * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for * Custom: 3-6 months * Price Range: $750- $5,000 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/ repairs bikes * Specialty: Road frames with custom handcut lugwork. "I emphasize the individual needs of the customer and quality craftsmanship. Every detail, from mitering to alignment to filing and painting, is done to the highest standard of excellence."

Foes Fabrications 2660 Deodar Circle, Pasadena, CA 91107; 818/793-1997 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: MBS/FR * Brands: Foes Fab * Number Built: 75 * Years Experience: 2 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $1,790+ * Specialty: Full-suspension mountain bike racing frames. "Our frames are handmade in the USA, and we are the only company to offer a frame with 6 inches of rear wheel travel in a monocoque design." Funk Bicycles 4520 S. Navaho, Unit E, Englewood, CO 80110; 303/788-1830 * Frame Materials: WDAL, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR * Brands: Funk * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 7 * Wait for custom: 3 months * Price range: $650-$1,400 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs own bike only * Specialty: Funk suspension fork and all-suspension frame. "We carefully craft very reliable dual-suspension bikes, using plenty of CNC parts."

Otis Guy Cycles 115 Ridge Road, Fairfax, CA 94930; 415/456-4132 * Frame Materials: TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS, TM/700C, TM/26 * Brands: Otis Guy * Number Built: 350 * Years Experience: 11 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $950-$1,300 * Repaints/ repair bikes * Specialty: Fine custom, Softride beam equipped. "Our bikes are built by two seasoned builders. We race, and have sponsored a team for years. We are at the forefront of Allsop Softride system technology."

C. Hansen Bicycle & Tool 8060 Hwy. #8, Culver, MN 55779; 218/345-6280 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TR, WM * Brands: C. Hansen, Sisukas * Number Built: 500+ * Years Experience: 18 * Wait for Custom: 2 months * Price Range: $950-$1,500 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road signature. "As an alternative to paint, I offer Birchwood/Casey Presto Black with or without decals or clear coat."

Bill Holland Cycles, Inc. 3735 Kenora Dr., Suite B, Spring Valley, CA 92116; 619/469-1772 * Frame Materials: WDTI, LGST, FBST, TGST * Types: RR, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TK, WM, TR, MB, MB/S, HY * Brands: Holland * Number Built: 700+ * Years Experience: 18 * Wait for Custom: 1-3 months * Price Range: N/A * Repaints/ repairs bikes * Specialty: Road and triathlon. "Elite road and time trial a specialty." Hollands Cycles 1 Main St., Reisterstown, MD 21136; 410/526-3983 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST, LGCF * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Hollands * Number Built: 500+ * Years Experience: 30+ * Wait for Custom: 3 months * Price Range: $950-$2,200 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road racing, touring. "All design and building carried out by John Hollands and son only. Absolutely top quality framesets and service. We do not build faddish framesets."

Hooker industries 1024 W. Brooks St., Ontario, CA 91762; 909/983-5871 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: RR, RS, TK, TL * Brands: 'Elite' Road, Time Trial, Kilo, Pursuit * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 6 * Wait for Custom: 8 weeks * Price Range: $1,840-$2,969 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Elite aero time trial/kilo/pursuit/road. "Hooker elites are aerodynamic bicycles built with light, wing-shaped 6061 aluminum tubing. Elites dominated national caliber events in 1993, winning 29 medals at senior and masters nationals. Rebecca Twigg won the gold and set a 3,000-meter pursuit world record on an Elite."

Hujsak Bicycles 505 Deer Lake Rd., Wimberly, TX 78676; 512/847-5639 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, WM, TK, JV * Brands: Hujsak * Number Built: 900+ * Years Experience: 18 * Wait for Custom: 4-8 weeks * Price Range: $850 -$1,750 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road racing, triathlete, time trial. "We build for very tall and very short riders. We design and build any type of specialty frame."

Lafleche Industries, Inc. 186 Rue, St. Paul, Quebec, Canada G1K 3W1; 800/363-1191 * Frame Materials: LGCF, LGST * Types: MB/S, RR * Brands: Lafleche * Number Built: 300 * Years Experience: 6 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $1,300- $2,300 * Specialty: MTB. "Lafleche world-championship carbon fiber tubing. Robert Stowe handcrafted excellence in steel."

Land Shark Bicycles 225 Crystal Heights Rd., Medford, OR 97501; 503/535-4516 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Road Shark, Dirt Shark, Tri Shark, Twin Shark, Time Shark * Number Built: 1,970 * Years Experience: 12 * Wait for Custom: 12 weeks * Price Range: $895- $1,850 * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Steel road race, mountain, fillet brazed. "Personalized attention from owner/builder."

William Lewis Imports, Inc. 401 F.M. 685, Suite B-203, Pflugerville, TX 78660; 512/251-0088 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST * Types: RR, TK * Brands: Tommasini, Quattro Assi * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 16 * Wait for Custom: 6 months * Price Range: $600- $1,200 * Specialty: Road racing. "We specialize in professional-level racing frames. The geometry of each frame is special, and differs by size."

Lighthouse Cycles 3498 Willow St., Santa Ynez, CA 93460; 805/688-6385 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, JV * Brands: Lighthouse Cycles * Number Built: 992 * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 8-12 weeks * Price Range: $1,195-$1,500, tandems $2,600 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Handcrafted custom road frames. "All fitting, construction, and painting performed by Tim Neenan."

Lippy Cycles, Inc. 60265 Faugarwee, Bend, OR 97702; 503/389-2503 * Frame Materials: FBST * Types: TM/700C * Brands: Lippy * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 8 weeks * Price Range: $1,800-$2,200 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: 700C tandems. * "Experience! With 33 years of cycling experience, 25 years of tandem experience, and 20 years of framebuilding experience, I am one of the most experienced tandem builders in the country."

Mako Bicycles 1320 Grand Ave., #12A, San Marcos, CA 92069; 619/744-3988 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDAL, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS, TR, WM, TK, JV * Brands: Mako Bicycles * Number Built: 400 * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: 4-6 weeks * Price Range: $1,000- $1,960 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Titanium full suspension and 6Al/4V Ti frames. "We offer personal service, with an emphasis on building the customer a strong and reliable bicycle tailored to needs."

Maplewood Bicycle 7534 Manchester, St. Louis, MO 63143; 314/781-9566 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, RR, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Mercian Cycles * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: 3-5 months * Price Range: $750-$1,500 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Reynolds 531 Mercian King Race lugged road frame. "Old World English Reynolds 531 handcrafted framesets with renowned attention to detail; an almost endless list of paint, braze-on, chroming, special lugs and tube sets, all at bargain prices."

McMahon Racing Cycles 1020 Cindy Ln., #9, Carpinteria, CA 93013; 805/684-7398 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR * Brands: McMahon * Number Built: 1,500+ * Years Experience: 9 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $1,100-$1,800 * Specialty: Titanium mountain /road. "McMahon makes a wide variety of frames and components. We make a 'system' of high-quality parts designed to work together."

Merlin Metalworks, Inc. 40 Smith Place, Cambridge, MA 02138; 617/661-6688 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS * Brands: Merlin Extralight, Road, Mountain, Suspension * Number Built: 12,000 * Years Experience: 8 * Wait for Custom: 3-4 weeks * Price Range: $1,800-$2,850 * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Lightweight, bombproof titanium road and mountain frames. "As a leader in the materials revolution in frames, we have established new and higher standards for strength, weight, durability, performance, and precision in the materials we use and the frames we sell."

Monolith Bicycle Products 3980 Research Park Ct., Unit E, Soquel, CA 95073; 408/462-3553 * Frame Materials: WDAL * Types: MBS/FR * Brands: Alloy, Echelon, Momentum * Number Built: 120 * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: "Mid-high" * Specialty: Handbuilt, semi-monocoque, full suspension. "Our approach to bike building comes from a unique perspective which includes experience in motor sports suspension design, industrial design and consumer product prototyping, as well as cycling. Accordingly, this approach yields a unique mountain bike."

Peter Mooney Cycles 480 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA 02178; 617/489-3577 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: RR, RS, TR, WM, TK * Brands: 'Signature' (custom), 'Elite Stage' (stock road) * Number Built: 800 * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 12 weeks * Price Range: $1,050-$2,000 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Custom road and sport. "My philosophy of framebuilding is traditional, but not out of date. I feel the name on the frame should be that of the craftsperson who designed and constructed it."

Mountain Cycle 2494 Victoria Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; 805/545-8004 * Frame Materials: WDAL-TIG * Types: MBS/FR * Brands: San Andreas R-series: R-8.0, R-8.2, R-8.4, R-8.6 * Number Built: 1,000 * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: 3 weeks * Price Range: $1,450-$2,750 * Repaints/repairs own bikes * Specialty: Monocoque full-suspension framesets. "Mountain Cycle was the first to offer a monocoque aluminum full-suspension frameset, inverted suspension forks, and disc brakes for bicycles.

Nobilette cycles 1616 S. Horseshoe Circle, Longmont, CO 80501; 303/682-9146 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, JV, TL * Brands: Nobilette * Number Built: 850+ * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for custom: 1-3 months * Price range: $850+ * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Fillet brazing. "Most of my work is custom. I spend a lot of time with the customer, and have the experience to give the customer what is wanted. I have made every type of bike."

Nuke Proof Industries 6440 E. Fulton, Ada, MI 49301; 616/676-2400 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB/S * Brands: Nuke Proof Titanium Tech * Number Built: 500 * Years Experience: 2 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $1,350-$1,500 * Specialty: Titanium, suspension-ready. "Frames are designed and built in-house at Ada, Michigan, by experienced racers." Ochsner International, Inc. (dist.) 4341 West Peterson, Chicago, IL 60646; 312/286-3111 * Frame Materials: LGST, BDAL, OPCF * Types: RR * Brands: Vitus, Ochsner, Swiss Army * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: N/A * Wait for Custom: 60 days * Price Range: $250-$1,500 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Road racing. "Personal attention to detail."

One-Off Titanium 221 Pine St., Florence, MA 01060; 413/585-5913 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, RC, TK * Brands: One-Off * Number Built: 2,000 * Years Experience: 12 * Wait for Custom: 2-4 months * Price Range: $2,500+ * Repaints (anodizes) and repairs titanium bikes * Specialty: Prototyping the unusual. "Since co-founding Merlin in 1986 and switching to custom work at One-Off in '88, Mike Augspurger has more experience building and riding more kinds of titanium bikes than anyone. I've helped many cyclists get hitched by making a few hundred titanium wedding rings!"

Ralph Ray Engineering Box 1515, Boulevard, CA 91905; 619/766-4650 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDAL, WDTI * Types: MBS/FR, RR, TR, WM, TK * Brands: N/A * Number Built: 100+ * Years Experience: 17 * Wait for Custom: 1-3 months * Price Range: $1,400-$5,000 * Complete bikes available * Specialty: Time trial, multisport. "We design 'one-off' bicycles to customer's needs, or original designs for manufacturers. Also, bicycle design and engineering consulting."

Rhygin Racing Cycles Box 709, Amherst, MA 01004-0709; 413/367-2801 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S * Brands: Rhygin * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $800-$1,450 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Mountain bike racing. "We are immersed in the mountain bike racing scene as sponsors, builders, and racers. Come to us for expertise." Rock Lobster Cycles 3311 Gross Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95062; 408/429-1356 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, Cyclo-cross * Brands: Rock Lobster, Routier, Sadoff * Number Built: 303 * Years Experience: 16 * Wait for Custom: 3-4 months * Price Range: $950-$1,800 * Complete bikes available; repaint/repair work is subcontracted * Specialty: Fancy lugged road, fillet brazed mountain. "I build each frame myself to measure. I try to have personal contact with each customer and maintain a good attitude. That's a tall order! And, I still love to ride bikes."

S.P. Systems/Compositair 741 Flynn Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012; 805/389-4600 * Frame Materials: OPCF * Types: MB * Brands: Genesis * Number Built: New production * Years Experience: 1 * Wait for Custom: 6 weeks * Price Range: "High" * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: MB. "One-piece molded frame, proprietary molding process, more than 300,000 commercial structures produced in 13 years." Salsa Cycles, Inc. 611 2nd St., Petaluma, CA 94952; 707/762-8191 * Frame Materials: TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, RS, TR, TK, HY, MBS/FR * Brands: Salsa * Number Built: 2,500 * Years Experience: 17 * Specialty: ATB * Wait for Custom: 1-3 years * Price Range: $1,200-$1,500 * Repaints /repairs bikes * "Bicycles are tools not toys. We design and build bikes to be ridden and enjoyed, not as fashion statements."

Sling Shot 5610 S. Division, Grand Rapids, MI 49548; 616/530-5556 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDTI * Types: MBS/FR, RR * Brands: Sling Shot * Number Built: 2,000 * Years Experience: 11 * Wait for Custom: 6-10 weeks * Price Range: $800-$3,000 * Specialty: Mountain and road race frames. "All frames have mid-frame suspension, designed for racing, high-performance, and sport riding."

Steelman Cycles 3600 Haven, #5, Redwood City, CA 94063; 415/364-3939 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, (TR, WM, TK-Custom only) * Brands: Steelman * Number Built: 662 * Years Experience: 13 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $895-$1,600 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Cyclo-cross and mountain in light steel. "I don't chase trends or engage in hype. I just build frames that are straightforward, functional, beautiful, and above all fun to ride."

Stevenson Design Group 120 State St., Suite 115, Olympia, WA 98501; 206/357-8651 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS, TM/26, TM/700C, TL, TK * Brands: Stevenson custom and limited lines * Number Built: 600+ * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 60 days * Price Range: $590-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Tandems and full suspension MTB. "Extensive experience in all aspects of bike industry. Attention to detail: Bill Stevenson builds all frames himself."

Stinsmen Racing 3436 Lincoln Ave., Allentown, PA 18103; 610/432-7254 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: RR, RS, TM/700C, TR, TL, TK * Brands: Veloce * Number Built: 246 * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 3 months * Price Range: $800-$2,000 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Time trial/track. "Bikes and frames are built to suit our customers needs, we have never built two bikes with the same specifications." Stowe Cycles 140 Despatch Dr., East Rochester, NY 14445; 716/381-6273 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, LGCF * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Stowe * Number Built: 4,000+ * Years Experience: 14 * Wait for Custom: 2-6 weeks * Price Range: $850-$1,550 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road. "Stowe is a small but efficient frame manufacturing company. Stowe consists of one person, one hound dog named 'Fred', and more than $100,000 worth of precision equipment."

Suburban Machinery 37127 Ben Hur Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; 216/951-6555 * Frame Materials: WDTI * Types: MB/S, RR * Brands: Torque Titanium * Number Built: 400 * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $1,200-$1,700 * Specialty: Triathlon frames. "We specialize in 650C (26-inch wheel) road bikes."

Sycip Designs 4396 Enterprise Pl., #G, Fremont, CA 94538; 510/657-5669 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TR * Brands: Sycip * Number Built: 35 * Years Experience: 2 * Wait for Custom: 1 month * Price Range: $900-$1,500 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Handpainted, fillet-brazed mountain frames and road frames. "Operated by two brothers specializing in handbuilt and handpainted framesets. Our custom framesets are built to meet your personal needs in style, size, and finish."

Ti Cycles 824 Post Ave., Seattle, WA 98104; 206/624-9697 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, HY, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK, JV, TL * Brands: Ti Cycles * Number Built: 450+ * Years Experience: 8 * Wait for Custom: 12 weeks * Price Range: $800-$2,000 steel, $2,000-$5,000 Ti * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Ti road with 26-inch wheels. "Every frame and bicycle we build is a custom, tailored to the rider's body, and their cycling needs."

Titus Titanium 824 S. Mill Ave., #172, Tempe, AZ 85281; 602/894-8452 * Frame Materials: WDTI, TGST, WDAL * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM * Brands: Titus Titanium * Number Built: 500 * Years Experience: 6 * Wait for Custom: 4 weeks * Price Range: $900-$2,500 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Ti mountain, Ti full suspension, Ti road frames. "We are a flexible manufacturing facility that can build a custom Ti frame for the same amount of money as other similar quality Ti frames. The perfect metal should have the perfect fit. We even vary wall thickness and tubing diameter according to the riders weight and style."

Todson, Inc. (dist.) 14 Connor Lane, Deer Park, NY 11729; 516/586-5300 * Frame Materials: OPCF, LGCF, WDTI, WDAL, LGST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, TK, TL * Brands: Colnago * Number Built: 500,000 * Years Experience: 40 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $650-$2,900 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Pro. "In celebrating his 40th anniversary, Ernesto Colnago continues his commitment to blending the best of Italian handcrafted artistry with the best in technological innovation."

Trimble Products Co. 505 Cougar Dr., Boulder, CO 80302; 303/444-2275 * Frame Materials: OPCF * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR * Brands: Trimble * Number Built: 800 * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: 1 week * Price Range: $1,200-$1,800 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Lightweight mountain bike monocoque. "The original innovator in carbon fiber frames. Unique single main tube design is simple, strong, and super-light." Veltec Boyer Sports (dist.) 1793 Catalina St., Sand City, CA 93955; 408/394-7114 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST * Types: MB, RR * Brands: Concorde * Number Built: "Thousands" * Years Experience: 8 * Wait for Custom: 3 months * Price Range: $1,000+ * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road racing. "Official brand of PDM--The winningest team ever!"

Waterford Precision Cycles 816 W. Bakke Ave., Waterford, WI 53185; 414/534-4190 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDAL, BDAL * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS, TR, TK * Brands: Waterford * Number Built: 12,000+ * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $600-$1,050+ * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road. "We're not just a custom shop--we're also a leading design firm exploring a wide range of materials, methods, and product applications. We incorporate the best and most-proven of our designs in our manufactured products. We have 20 years experience in elite bicycle building."

J.P. Weigle Cycles Box 265, E. Haddam, CT 06423; 203/873-1671 * Frame Materials: LGST, FBST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM, TK * Brands: J.P. Weigle * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 20 * Wait for Custom: N/A * Price Range: $1,295+ * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Road frames and frame repairs/repaint. "J.P. Weigle is a one-man shop that builds frames to match a rider's size and style. I also enjoy repair/repaint work."

Wilderness Trail Bikes 134 Redwood Ave., Corte Madera, CA 94925; 415/924-9632 * Frame Materials: TGST * Types: MB, MB/S * Brands: Phoenix * Number Built: 100 (Phoenix series) * Years Experience: 14 * Wait for Custom: 8 weeks * Price Range: $1,050-$1,199+ * Repaints/repairs own bikes * Specialty: Custom quality/limited production. "Our bikes are different because of our use of thin-wall, OS tubing in a small front triangle, with a radically sloping top tube. An aggressive, efficient design."

Ted Wojcik Custom Bicycles, Inc. 4 Poplar St., Amesbury, MA 01913; 508/388-4150 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST * Types: MB/S, MBS/FR, RR, RS, WM, JV * Brands: Ted Wojcik Soft Trac-Front Susp, Soft Trac-Dual Susp, CodeXKids * Number Built: 500+ * Years Experience: 14 * Wait for Custom: 2-4 months * Price Range: $970-$2,499 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Mountain frames. "All frames are built using only the finest materials available and crafted undoubtedly with the cleanest welds and finish work in the industry. There is no comparison."

World Class Cycles11 Dewey Road, Commack, NY 11725; 516/543-1835 * Frame Materials: LGST, 531, 653, 753 Reynolds Tubing * Types: RR, RS, TM/700C, TR, WM, TK, TL * Brands: Bob Jackson, Hetchins * Number Built: 20,000 since 1935 * Years Experience: 51 * Wait for Custom: 6-16 weeks, some stocked * Price Range: "Medium to high" * Repaints/repairs own bikes only * Specialty: Handbuilt, lightweight, meticulously finished racing and touring bikes. "Each frame handcrafted in Great Britain, not mass produced. Old world finish, oven-baked finishes, all lugs outlined, on 753 models special lightened lugs used. Fantastic riding cycles."

Wynn Custom Bicycles 2613 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116; 206/932-5534 * Frame Materials: FBST, LGST * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, HY, RS, TR, WM, TK, TL * Brands: Passion-Road, Grace-Mtn, Fire-Track, Phase III-Tri * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 10 * Wait for Custom: 6-8 weeks * Price Range: $1,200-$2,000 * Complete bikes available * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Fillet brazed, hand-finished, custom shaped tubes. "Wynn Custom Bicycles is a race-oriented manufacturer of custom designs. We pick tube size and weight and shape appropriately to optimize performance."

Yeti Cycles, Inc. 194 Bodo Drive, Durango, CO 81301; 303/259-1914 * Frame Materials: TGST, WDAL, OPCF * Types: MB, MB/S, MBS/FR, RR * Brands: Yeti Pro F.R.O., A.R.C., A.R.C.-A.S., A.R.C.-ASLT, Road Project * Number Built: 10,000 * Years Experience: 9 * Wait for Custom: 2-3 weeks * Price Range: $1,050-$2,700 * Repaint frames; repair Yeti only * Specialty: Handmade mountain bike racing framesets. "We continually translate the technical knowledge gained from our World Class Racing Program to the very frames that we deliver to the masses daily."

Zinn Cycles, Inc.4715 N. Broadway, B-3, Boulder, CO 80304; 303/786-7442 * Frame Materials: LGST, TGST, FBST, WDTI * Types: MB, MB/S, RR, RS, TM/700C, TM/26, TR, WM, TK * Brands: Zinn * Number Built: 1,200 * Years Experience: 12 * Wait for Custom: 3 months * Price Range: $1,350-$3,500 * Complete bikes available; repairs bikes * Specialty: Road racing and aero. "Nobody is better at working with the customer to find out what he or she wants and needs, and then turning that into a great custom bicycle."

Zipp Speed Weaponry 705 S. Girls School Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46231; 317/243-4230 * Frame Materials: OPCF * Types: RR, TK * Brands: Zipp 2001 * Number Built: N/A * Years Experience: 3 * Wait for Custom: 10 days * Price Range: $2,600 * Repaints/repairs bikes * Specialty: Zipp 2001 triathlon/time trial. "We have pushed composite bicycle technology to a new level with super-aero 'wishbone' style frames. Athletes who appreciate these advances are our biggest fans. We welcome all calls!"

 
     

More to come!
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