Wildebeest's prices, and some details about services available

Many builders will build anything and everything- you dream it, you request it, someone somewhere can and will build it. Many are the framebuilders who build road frames AND mountain bike frames AND touring frames AND single speed frames AND tandem frames, whatever is asked for. My hat is off to them.

Wildebeest, on the other hand, is not your source for any and every type of frame. I know what I do well, and would rather direct you, the buyer, to another builder if what you have in mind would be better executed by another shop, and further would basically put me in the position of building a prototype every time. Confidence and satisfaction will be gained by playing to strengths. Wildebeest's strength is in lugged steel touring and cross frames.

Now, pricing is based on costs of materials, which are not going down; cost of overhead and infrastructure, which for me is blessedly low; cost for my time and energies, and remember that I am it, the sole Wildebeest, in spite of what may be written elsewhere about graphics staff and gypsy fabricators; and, of course, cost for coffee, lamb, cheese, beer, olives, wine, firewood for the brick oven, figs, apricots, et cetera...

The prices you see below reflect all that, and equally important but less quantifiable, they are driven by the thousands of failure-free, owner-satisfying miles covered by extant Wildebeests. Every Wildebeest to come benefits from the lessons learned from the Wildebeest before.

These prices are not significantly different from those listed here in previous years. What is different is One, turn-around time (from time of order to time of final delivery) is shorter, thanks mainly to simple experience gained from building so many framesets, and Two, more services are available (sorry, though, no painting- there are others who are already set up to paint frames, which is not what I got into this work to do).

As has always been the case since day 1 and frame number 2 (frame number 1 is mine, and required no negotiation), these prices are starting points, and many factors can affect a frameset's final cost up or down.

the cycleacross

The order was to make a frame not quite pure cyclocross, but a bit racier than a pure touring rig- a bicycle which could cycle across anything. Every bicycle rider should have one, or at least something similar. Cantilever brakes (or disc brakes- inquire) and rack-appropriate bosses, clearance for fenders, dig it.

(Some have referred to bicycles built from a similar philosophy as "sport tourers", an egregious phrase which nobody at the Wildebeest campus is allowed to use.)

$1441.00 sans fork, $1691.00 with a steel fork.

the migrator

Longer wheelbase and chainstays, and slacker angles, than found in the cycleacross. More mounting points, as in bosses for a third bottle cage, and front rack bosses on the fork, are standard. Cantilever brakes again, and clearance for fenders.

$1551.00 just frame, $1851.00 with steel fork.

basic road

$1331.00 without fork, $1581.00 with fork of steel.

wheels, component parts and complete bikes

Also know that I do not offer ala carte component and accessory sales- that is what your local independent bicycle dealer is for. I provide components strictly to equip new, and repair existing, Wildebeests.

wrenching and bicycle construction

Just keep in mind that there are really good independent bicycle dealers in most areas who can do your tuneups and bike builds, too- and I would like to maintain good relations with all of them. Support your local shop.

merino wool jerseys

$60 dollars, while supplies last. Click here to learn more.

is that all?

I will not hesitate to say that, should you have technical off-road or road racing ambitions, there are other builders, and materials apart from steel, that may serve you better. But I will listen to any idea you have...

so how does one start the process?