I have a true soft spot in my heart for custom steel frame builders. The amount of care and craftsmanship that goes into every single one of their frames is unlike any other build in the industry. These guys have a true love for the sport, and most of the time…they make next to nothing on their works of art. Every now and then, I am going to highlight some of these custom steel frame builders so you guys can see what amazing work comes out of these small shops. Also, I don’t care what any aluminum or titanium rider will tell you…nothing rides as great as custom steel.
A friend of mine, Jay Carpenter, sent me a link recently to Stoic Cycles.
From Jay at Stoic:
I only build with steel, but do all the build methods, (TIG, Fillet brazed, and Lugged) and will mix the methods up on a single frame if wanted. I’m more interested in building a strong frame than a really light weight frame, but can do somewhat light, depending on the size of the rider. Frames probably average in the 4.5-5lbs range. I’m willing to build most any type of frame, however MTB, and Cyclocross are the two I build most often.
You will see some true works of art on Jay’s site. He even went as far as building a 36er! But still…my favorite part of his entire library is the lug work. When you see a lugged frame, it is really amazing to look at the attention to detail and final touches that really bring together a frame of that caliber. Lugs, while not light, are a great way to add strength and artistic originality to custom made steel frames. If you have ever seen a lugged frame in person, you know exactly what I am talking about.
If you are ever in the market for a custom steel ride, check out Jay at Stoic Cycles. He does some incredible work and his wait time seems to be a lot less than a lot of custom steel makers these days.
Contact info:
info@stoiccycles.com | Pricing
