I’ve been getting a  lot of calls lately for “Monster Cross”, “All-Rounders”, “Dirt Road” bikes etc. It’s a category I love. They are bikes that are good for a broad range of riding and if you have a couple sets of wheels there is very little compromise from one extreme to the other. The one problem I have, is trying to explain to people that while in general a bike can be labeled, it’s the customer that determines what the bike ultimately is. As a customer, when you buy a custom frame you have to shift your way of thinking from the normal bike shop process to a completely different way of doing things. Custom frames aren’t product driven, they are customer driven. Rather than working back from existing bikes, types or models to your goals, we are working from your goals to the bike. Your goals are identified and prioritized and it is the goals that determine what the bike is and you can call it whatever you want.

Below are two bikes that Bill is currently assembling. Loretta will take some good pictures of them and they will go out this week. One is a titanium frame that has canti brakes, room for large tires, fenders and a rack. We also designed in enough room for panniers. The owner, Holly, also bought two sets of wheels.  One set has cross tires and the other road tires. Holly will be using the bike for commuting and fast group rides and it will do both well.

The other bike is for Dave of Las Vegas. He will be using his bike primarily for commuting. It is based on a 29er MTB wheel with On-One Mary bars and an Ultegra build kit.

Two customers, two bikes. Call them what you want, I’ll call them Holly and Dave.

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