Building a custom bike means being able to specify each component exactly to suit your needs. A custom bike might be assembled from new or used components and each project is unique.

So many options!

• Powdercoat or respray your frame (new or old… choose the colour you want!)
• The stem, bars, grips, saddle and pedals you need for the best ergonomics (and we can tee you up for pro bike fit if needed)
• A hub dynamo front wheel (either custom built or off the shelf)
• A gear hub rear wheel (ranging from a Sturmey Archer 3 speed to a Shimano or SRAM 5, 7, 8 or 9 speed, right up to a Rohloff 14 speed)
• Brakes to suit, ranging from conventional rim brakes to mechanical or hydro discs to hub drum or roller brakes
• Racks and guards as you need: Perhaps Tubus or Surly racks for heavy duty touring. Perhaps Planet Bike or Soma full mudguards for winter commuting
• … And countless other possibilities!

Quotes and pricing

We use a custom spreadsheet that takes a full breakdown of all components and labour requirements to give an accurate and transparent quote.

Sourcing parts

We can supply frames and all parts and accessories. We always try to stock the best range possible and will readily order unusual parts are needed. We’ve got a strong network of local specialists – frame painters, frame builders, chrome platers, metal polishers etc – who we work with and recommend.

Another option is to bring in your own components. Sounds tempting, but be very careful. We stock what we do based on continual research and product testing and we’re proud of this. In a number of cases, customer sourced parts have caused major incompatible issues. Or the parts have been incomplete. And sometimes we could have supplied these parts straight off the shelf! The problem solving and extra work generated by these incompatibilities can negate any up-front savings.

Another benefit of having us supply parts is that we then warranty them. Again, any up-front savings of parts sources online can quickly disappear if you have any warranty issues to negotiate with online and international retailers.

Please contact us or come in for a chat as a first step. We love talking about custom bikes.

Sample custom builds

Christophe’s Super Custom All Special Wonder Bike

Christophe loved his old mountain bike only one problem though, it (seriously) lacked style.  Not any more though! Christophe has a repainted frame, a hand built, hand painted front wheel, a custom painted Aerospoke, hand painted bars and stema, very funky Cardiff wooden grips and Cardiff leather saddle. Oh, and hand painted Sugino cranks and chainring.

Ben’s Soma rush

The Soma Rush was the perfect geometry but the colour wasn’t right. We powder coated it white, fitted white Velocity Deep V wheels, Nitto bars and stem and the Dia Compe shot lever.

David’s SuperCommuter

It started with a Trek double butted chromoly frame and a with custom twopack paint job by Spray Ya Bike. These photos show the hubs (Schmidt front dynamo hub and Rohloff 14 speed hubgear), headlight (Busch and Muller Lumotec IQ Fly) and Surly stainless chainring… full photo of the bike coming soon!

Kamal’s Hillman restoration

With new paint job, new Hillman decals and custom wheel set (Velocity Aeroheat rims, DT Swiss Competition stainless double butted spokes, Phil Wood touring hub set).

A very simple custom setup

Buying a new bike often includes having some modifications made. Here’s Ryan’s Allegro Pista fixie. Purchased and then fitted with riser bars, brakes, upgraded tyres etc

Jai’s Surly Big Dummy for expedition touring

Jai was setting himself up for some pretty rugged expedition touring. The only bike we know that’s strong enough and versatile enough for the job is the Surly Big Dummy. Jai purchased the Big Dummy frame and we fitted a Rohloff 14 speed rear wheel and Surly bottom bracket, cranks and chainring.  Jai supplied the front wheel and disc brakes. Sometimes a bare frame is the best starting point for a custom build and sometimes a complete bike works out more economical to modify. Here are some photos Jai has posted about his first tours.

Bill’s Shogun tourer

step one… frame mods

The first step to becoming the most customised Shogun Metro SE in town. Gellie Custom dropouts.

step two

Second, wheels go on. Rohloff 14 speed hub, DT Alpine III spokes and Velocity Chucker rims. Plus Schwalbe Marathon XR tyres. Heavy wheels but super tough. Hopefully this will encourage Bill to get out of town more frequently (that was the plan).

step three

Third, finishing touches for now. Schmidt SON dynamo hub on the front with a Busch and Muller Lumotec IQ Fly headlamp and Toplight Flat Plus rear light. There’s been a lot of talk lately about the best choices in lighting systems. Have a read over this article we recently posted.

A new paint job is still necessary and some decent grips (there’s always something else!).

Perhaps a set of custom wheels

So many options in hubs, spokes, rims and tyres! There’s a lot to consider when trying to decide what components will give the best wheel set for your requirements. We can offer suggestions on custom builds across a range of budgets for the usage you need. The photo below is a Phil Wood high flange front track hub being built onto a Velocity B43 black rim with black DT Swiss Competition spokes. We regularly build custom dynamo hub front wheels with Shimano and Schmidt hubs, and gearhub rear wheels with Shimano, Sram and Rohloff hubs.

Or a custom drivetrain like this 1×8 speed

There are benefits of derailler gear systems and there are benefits of hub gear systems. Nadine’s custom 1×8 speed Sram derailler build offers some weight savings, gear range and price advantages. And besides which, it looks fantastic! The orange powder coat and Kinesis alloy fork give a nice contrast to the black finish parts (cranks/stem/bars/hubs/rims/post/saddle).