Having a custom frame made abroad? In Colombia?

[lawrence hello]

Quite a specific question, but maybe one of you has some experience of doing this.

I've been thinking about travelling around South America at some point in the future, and having read about the high level of cycling going on in Colombia a thought crossed my mind. Wouldn't it be great to fly to Colombia, find an old bicycle maker in his suitably old and crowded workshop, have some kind of lugged steel frame custom made for me and then cycle around on a bit of a cycle tour before stripping the bike down and returning home with my new frame.

Has anyone here done something similar to this? I'm seeing it as a bit like the cycling equivalent of having a suit tailored in South East Asia. Any thoughts?

[anonymous-user]

sounds like a nice idea but I cant imagine the quality would be that good to be honest. no idea what the quality of steel would be like and once you are there, you are reliant on finding a welder and it actually being of a sound quality...

[lawrence hello]

I guess I'd try to find a bicycle builder before I set off, I'm sure someone local can recommend someone there. I hadn't thought too much about the quality of the steel, I can't imagine it being impossible to get good tubes out there though, it would restrict what kind of bicycle I could have built, but I'm interested more in some kind of retro 5 speed racer/tourer anyway, so hopefully should be ok for that.

[Mandog]

I've been to Colombia many times although not as a cyclist. The Colombians have some good road cyclists and you see quite a few around the mountain areas of Santander.

If I were you I'd keep out of the big cities especially at rush hour but then you also have to be wary of the outskirts and country areas for being kidnapped.

The domestic product of Colombia is excellent. Particularly clothes and furniture. I imagine you could get a good steel frame built very cheaply.

It helps infinately if you can speak spanish.

Try googling "bici colombia"