Melbourne Frame Builders

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I'm planning on getting a custom steel (853?) touring/Audax/commuting frame built.

I know a little about Cecil Walker and St Kilda Cycles, and would like to hear about any others, and recommendations based on good/bad experiences.

Thylacine Cycles, but his website is down :)
http://www.thylacinecycles.com/

There's Paconi in Braeside. (doesn't have a website)
9 Macbeth St Braeside VIC 3195
p: (03) 9587 0688

Hillman in West Brunswick, but their stickers are ugly :p
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hillman/custom.html

Kennedy in Black Rock, but I think Paconi makes most of his frames
http://www.kennedycyclefit.com/Text/1147176181781-0103/Custom-Frames

I'm not sure if Daryl Perkins is still building frames



Now the big question: why do you want a custom frame? :)
Do you have particular requirements?

Thylacine Cycles, but his website is down :)
http://www.thylacinecycles.com/

There's Paconi in Braeside. (doesn't have a website)
9 Macbeth St Braeside VIC 3195
p: (03) 9587 0688

Hillman in West Brunswick, but their stickers are ugly :p
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hillman/custom.html

Kennedy in Black Rock, but I think Paconi makes most of his frames
http://www.kennedycyclefit.com/Text/1147176181781-0103/Custom-Frames

I'm not sure if Daryl Perkins is still building frames



Now the big question: why do you want a custom frame? :)
Do you have particular requirements?There is also Kookie Bikes www.kookiebikes.com (http://www.kookiebikes.com/) and that lads in Geelong Baum Cycles www.baum.com (http://www.baum.com/)

Why custom?

Longer thighs than average means seat needs to be further back, means more slope in the seat-post. This is especially so for a Brooks saddle, which tends to push you forward a bit more than others.

I can get a post with miles of set-back, but then I tend to be too far back on the frame (thighs sometimes annoyingly touch panniers, rack, seat-bag etc).

Hence custom.

Why steel? Because the ride is much smoother than aluminium (no big deal for commuting, Beach Rd etc, but a very big deal for a day on gravel roads).

...I'm not sure if Daryl Perkins is still building frames...

Yeah, he is, not sure of the lead time though. Just give him a call. He's in the whitepages.

Those Baum's are pretty - I want one! Check out the pics on cyclingnews from the Aussie bike shows. The detail!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2005/shows/australia05/?id=results/australia051

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2004/shows/?id=australia/aussies

http://www.cyclingnews.com/shows.php?id=tech/2003/shows/australia/default#top

etc etc

Those Baum's are pretty - I want one! Check out the pics on cyclingnews from the Aussie bike shows. The detail!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2005/shows/australia05/?id=results/australia051

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2004/shows/?id=australia/aussies

http://www.cyclingnews.com/shows.php?id=tech/2003/shows/australia/default#top

etc etc
And something more recent...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2006/shows/australia06/?id=results/australia062 (http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2006/shows/australia06/?id=results/australia062)

My Rohloff equipped Espresso is damn nice. MTB style, but I've set it up as a tourer/commuter and I'll do Audax rides on it.