I always thought custom bicycles just so much froufrou. They're critical equipment for bicycle racers, but the rest of us citizens would do just fine with something off the rack at the local bike store.
An everyday guy like me owning a custom bike? That would be like buying a Range Rover to drive to the local grocery store.
An article in the LA Times today goes a long way to changing my mind. The writer makes several good justifications for buying a custom bike which all boil down to this: If a custom bicycle gets you out on your bike more often, it's worth it.
Here are some of the advantages reported in “A bicycle built for you:”
— Cyclists can specify ride qualities, such as stiffness for hill climbing and twitchiness for handling. All combinations are possible.
— Frame builders can use titanium and carbon fiber to match the buyer's specs. No more mashing the body to fit the frame size or geometrics. Steel and aluminum also available.
— Matching a bike to a cyclist's body and riding style increasing comfort and handling.
All this comes at a price. Seven Cycles charges anywhere from $1,700 for a custom-made steel bicycle frame to $3,200 for titanium, while Serotta charges up to $7,000 for a competition carbon-fiber frame. And that's before wheels, drivetrain, etc.
OK. Maybe it would be worth it for me to go custom for my next bicycle, if only I could afford it. Anyway, I would never take it out of the garage to ride the wet, gritty roads during a Northwest winter.
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