Retro yet Modern Bike

[Alembicbassman]

If you want something that'll last a lifetime these guys have a great reputation

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/

Their frame builder app is good fun to play with

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frames/57/frame-builder

 

[Woz!]

The Cooper 5 speed?
http://www.cooperbikes.com/T200-steelracingbike.html

 

[Christopher]

A Dave Yates. I have two, marvellous machines. If you are near Lincolnshire, go see Dave and he'll sort you out.
Bob Jacksons are hightly thought of too. Both builders will do you something as good as the Holdsworth upthread and for a lot less. Proper custom starts with a blank piece of paper.

 

[zigzag]

i like the look of vintage racers a lot, but they are only good for leisurely rides in good weather. all things that make them look good and classy (quill stems, old style handlebar shape, slender single pivot brakes, downtube gear levers, clip-in pedals etc.) don't work well compared to modern day parts. and if you want to swap those parts to a modern ones, the bike is not classy anymore. i would ride a nice looking old style bike (and i had ridden them before), but when it comes to performance and ergonomics, they are not good enough compared to decent modern bikes.