So I'm in the market for a Ti or Reynolds 953 frame

[craigwend]

http://www.baldwintitanium.co.uk/

http://road.cc/content/review/111962-baldwin-titanium-custom-frame

 

[midlife]

I have heard of his frames, but not a great deal of activity about him on the 'tinternet that I can find anyhow?

I'd have mine made by Kevin Sayles at Woodrup if steel and not Ti.......................that's one of his bottom bracket cutouts in my avatar

Shaun

 

[simon.r]

Condor build their frames in Italy. Their titanium is utterly gorgeous, however they have discontinued it. They have/ had some framesets to clear in 58 and 61cm. Superb if over 6ft or so. Which I'm not

I am and I'd snap this up if it had disc mounts: https://www.condorcycles.com/collections/all-framesets/products/condor-gran-fondo-frameset But it doesn't Only 61cm left now, which is my size. Must resist...

 

[vickster]

P clips

It's the only Ti frame I've seen to make me part with my cash. Couldn't justify it at full price

I keep an eye on fleabay just in case...

 

[AlanW]

I'm In the early stages of looking at something similar to what you describe and called into Condor Cycles in London a couple of weeks ago. I was very impressed with their staff, they were happy to talk to me at length and offered a test ride there and then. Not sure where they build their frames though?

I had a good chat with the guy from Condor at the show and was also very impressed with both his knowledge and the bikes that were on show. The only issue for me is the time spent travelling to and from Condor from home for the bike fit, if they were more local to me they would be on my short list or prehaps I'm just making excuses?

 

[AlanW]

2 frame builders that I have no experience of but have cropped up on my radar are http://www.hartleycycles.com and http://talbotframeworks.co.uk

Looked at both frames at the show as well, and once again both very nice looking frames, but I have very little knowledge or experiance of either of them.

 

[vickster]

I had a good chat with the guy from Condor at the show and was also very impressed with both his knowledge and the bikes that were on show. The only issue for me is the time spent travelling to and from Condor from home for the bike fit, if they were more local to me they would be on my short list or prehaps I'm just making excuses?

They are in central London, pretty accessible really . Where are you based? They also sell through other shops, there's one in York IIRC

 

[AlanW]

They are in central London, pretty accessible really . Where are you based?

I'm in North Worcestershire, so not exactly ideal for me really.

 

[vickster]

So Birmingham way? Euston is not far at all from Condor, Marylebone not too hard either on the tube I'd say it's more accessible than Enigma in Sussex

I'm guessing these bespoke manufacturers are dotted around the country

 

[simon.r]

I'm guessing these bespoke manufacturers are dotted around the country

Spending around £2k on a frameset should be an enjoyable experience and not a rushed decision. If that involves a few days out (generally combined with doing other things) then so be it. I'm in no rush and was in London for reasons not connected with bicycles when I took the opportunity to call into Condor. I dare say that over the next few months I'll find a reason / excuse to be elsewhere in the country where there happen to be frame builders I want to talk to

 

[1954ianj]

Have you ever considered a Sabbath, I have the Aspire and I'm really pleased with it.

 

[srw]

For the record, Enigma seem to make some of their bespoke frames in the UK and some in the Far East - I think their website is pretty open about which is which. But one thing that struck me on our visit was their attention to detail and very high quality standards. Describing their foreign maker as a "sweatshop" seems a little unfair - welding titanium is a technologically challenging job, and creating the precise bike that their designer specifies a highly skilled artisanal job.

 

[AlanW]

Describing their foreign maker as a "sweatshop" seems a little unfair

To be fair, I wasn't implying or singling out that the Engima frames made overseas were made in "sweat shop", my comment was more of a sweeping generalising statement.

But why do they need to be made overseas, when we have the skill set in the UK?

 

[srw]

To be fair, I wasn't implying or singling out that the Engima frames made overseas were made in "sweat shop", my comment was more of a sweeping generalising statement.

But why do they need to be made overseas, when we have the skill set in the UK?

Cost. If you can pay the craftsperson £2 an hour in Asia rather than £10 an hour in the UK it makes sense.

 

[vickster]

Cheaper. Condor are stopping their Ti frame as has got too costly for a niche product . They are experimenting with lighter steels apparently