 | How
Do I Know if I Need a Custom Bike?
Anybody can benefit from a custom bike. Not only does a custom
bike fit you to a "T," it will also be built of materials
which reflect your body and riding style. Most non-custom
bikes are built to suit the "typical" customer, which probably
isn't you. For women, this usually means "non-custom" bikes
(any bike you purchase off the floor from a bike shop) are
usually overbuilt, that is, they are too heavy and use huge
diameter tubing which makes them too stiff. Because a big
bike manufacturer doesn't know if you weigh 100 pounds or
300 pounds, they tend to build your bike for the 300 pounder.
Why should you be carrying around all that extra frame weight?
Another thing to consider in determining whether you need
a custom bike is your level of satisfaction with your current
or past bikes. If you find yourself always wishing for a little
more comfort, constantly "tweaking" the bike so that it fits
better, or experience pain which goes beyond an initial "getting
in cycling shape" period, you should consider a custom frame.
Custom Bikes Seem So Expensive! What makes them worth the
money I have to spend to get one?
Custom bicycles tend to be more expensive than stock bikes,
initially. This is because they are built one at a time which,
in the manufacturing process, requires a lot more time and
effort. They also are usually built from extremely high-end
tube sets, with the lightest weights possible for your size
and style of riding. Such tubesets are extremely expensive,
especially when they are not ordered in large quantities.
However, if you compare the price of a fully-built Luna with
a stock bike sporting similar componentry, you will the expense
is not that much higher. And, if you consider the modifications
most women are forced to make to make their stock bike fit
well enough and perform enough--different saddle, handlebars,
stems, etc--the cost is comparable and sometimes even LESS
expensive to go with a custom bike from the get-go.
A custom bike will also be built around your particular body.
With stock bikes, you have to often build your body around--or
make it adapt to--the bike. Finally, a custom bike will wholly
reflect you in that YOU choose your bike's finish--color(s)
and graphics. What big brand stock bicycle offers that?
Why Do I Have to Wait 6 or More Weeks to Get My Luna?
I always tell people that buying a custom bicycle is not an
impulse purchase. They simply take time to produce.
Once I receive your body measurements and cycling questionnaire,
it is a process to turn the idea of your dream bike into your
custom Luna. First comes an interview, wherein I ask questions
and we get clear on exactly what you want and need in your
ideal bicycle. Then comes the design, created through a special
CAD program designed specifically for custom bicycle design.
Then comes the selection and ordering of your bicycle tubing
and braze-ons. After that there is the precision mitering
of the tubes and then join them by brazing or TIG welding.
Finish work--attending to clean up and frame details--consumes
more hours. Finally, the bike gets shipped to the frame painters,
a process of a month or so! Finally, when the painted frame
returns, it is another full day to transform your frame into
a built-up bicycle. Then we ship her up again and deliver
it to you, your custom Luna, a unique creation. Whew!
But it is worth the wait.
I am only 5 feet tall and cannot find a bike which fits,
is lightweight, and handles well. I do road races on the weekends,
and my boyfriend says I should have a bike with 700c wheels
because that is what racers ride. My bike right now is 47
cm with 700c wheels, but it hurts my back and neck on long
rides even though I have the shortest possible stem and have
moved my saddle all the way forward. I can't find anything
that fits any better at my local shop . What should I do?
Well, we think you should get a Luna! Seriously, a custom
bicycle is almost always the way to go for smaller women who
are serious riders or racers. Too many bike companies make
their small frames around the large 700c wheels because 700c
wheels are the standard. However, there is absolutely no way
to build such a small frame around such large wheels without
making significant compromises which affect the handling and
fit of the bicycle. Too often, these bikes have toe overlap
(where the front wheel touches the front of your forward foot
when turning at slow speeds), too long top tubes (causing
back and neck pain) improper front end geometry (which means
less than ideal steering), and extremely steep seat tube angles
(putting one's center of gravity too far forward for efficient
and comfortable riding).
Luna solves this problem by using 650c and/or 26" wheels
on many of our smaller frames. There is no evidence that such
wheels are slower and, in fact, we have found that it is much
easier for smaller people to accelerate quickly when the wheel
is more in proportion to their size. High end rims and tires
are widely available in the 650c and 26" size, because
these wheels are also commonly used on time trial and triathlon
bikes in all sizes. When this wheel size is used, we are not
forced to make compromises in frame angles or geometry to
make the frame fit around the wheels. The smaller wheel is
proportional with the smaller frame, and performance handling
is the result.
Don't "Women's Specific Design" Bikes Eliminate the Need
for Custom Bicycles for Women?
For some women, "WSD" bikes--a new line of bikes which are
manufactured by a few big bike companies and marketed for
women--are a good alternative for women who haven't been satisfied
with stock bikes from their local bike shop. The basic difference
in these bikes is that they tend to sport slightly shorter
top tubes, shorter stems, narrower handlebars, and "comfort"
saddles. Compared to bikes with identical componentry that
are built for men, however, they tend to be significantly
more expensive. This is probably because they are manufactured
in smaller quantities. Also, frame tubing doesn't appear to
be designed for women. The same tubing used on the bikes for
big guys is used in the WSD frame for the 110-pound female.
This means these bikes tend to be a little too heavy and,
for many women's tastes, too stiff.
If you have any further questions, please let us know by
e-mailing margo@lunacycles.com
and we will be happy to answer as quickly as possible.
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