Feather makes great bikes but has a year's waiting list! Rourke are fine frames but I've had a day on a
Condor and I'm pretty impressed. Thanks for the link. First world problem of too much choice.
I would certainly visit the Bespoked show.
I had a custom Rourke 853 Audax built to my specification and it's perfect, unique and always draws admiration as there are so few about compared to the big manufacturers.
Bespoked show will give you a much more interesting view of how a bicycle can be. The hardest thing is to think what you want the bike to do/be!
These were my criteria when I boiled-down all the options:
For me, I could never find an off the peg bike that fitted me properly, so custom was the first call. That makes steel or titanium.
It had to take mudguards for winter use
It had to have Dynamo lights and hub for winter/Night rides
It had to be flexible in terms of load-lugging BUT not a full-on touring
Wheels needed to be strong and durable but not tourer weight
When unloaded it needed to feel stiff and lively for evening club runs (I can stick lightweight wheels, remove guards and swap-out the Brooks saddle on it and it really moves!!!!)
It had to be simple i.e readily fixable in the middle of no-where (hence DT shifters and a rear hub that dissembles without tools!)
It had to be reliable i.e low maintainance and a bike I could just blow the tyres-up and go!
It had to take a full length pump
I wanted 3 bottle cages (again for flexibility)
It had to take a rear rack for Panniers if the need arised
It needed ways to run wiring cables tidily but not internally
Regular brakes not discs
I'm sure your list will be different, but for me it's good to write down the usages, the things you want/need first and then go from there.
My solution is for me and it worked out very nicely :-)
Winter Club runs mode.... (tools etc. in underslung bottle cage)
Max Touring mode without Bar-bag (Rarely used like this but works fine):
Lighter Camping/Touring mode (have since reduced kit further)
Typical 'Every-day' FNRttC, long days out mode (Rear-rack now removed and replaced with Carradice Bagman to reduce weight and look better!):
What's your dream?????
