How To Order Your CUstom Bike
Getting a custom PVF of your own is a really fun process.
Here is how it works:
Here is how it works:
- Contact: please get in touch via email or phone.
- Intro: We talk about what you are looking for, what the options are, and you can ask away any questions.
- Making it Official: A $500 deposit is placed, officially putting you into the build queue.
- (There is a wait until your spot is up in the queue)
- Fitting: Once your spot is up in the queue, we do a detailed (and very fun) in-person fitting.
- Design: I design and draft your frame, and select the specific tubing/materials to use.
- Design Approval: Once you approve of the frame design, its building time! Half of the frame cost is needed at this point to cover materials.
- Build Kit Selection: I configure several build kits for you that are specific to your needs and which cover a range of price points.
- Build Kit Approval: Once we've configured a build kit which you are happy with, a payment is needed to cover the parts- then I can get all of the components ordered.
- Paint Plan: We choose your color and paint layout so that the bike will be ready for finishing when fabrication is done.
- Frame Building Time! I build you an awesome bike.
- Finishing: Your frame is sent out for paint or powder coating.
- Assembly: I assemble your complete bike and get everything 100% dialed in and ready to ride.
- RIDE! You pick up your bike, or it is shipped to you- then it is time to ride! The final remaining balance on the frame is due when you pick up the bike.
CONTACT
Pioneer Valley Frameworks
Niall Gengler
pioneer@pioneerframeworks.com / (413)282-8460
Pioneer Valley Frameworks
Niall Gengler
pioneer@pioneerframeworks.com / (413)282-8460
Here is an even more detailed explanation of the process from order to delivery:
Initial Conversation: "What do you want your bike to do for you?"
We’ll first talk about what you are looking for- what do you want to do on your new bike, and what do you want your new bike to do for you? Whether you are entering the process of ordering a custom bike with a lot or very little technical knowledge and preferences, I’m here to help! If you find anything confusing, or want to talk through more of the process I’m happy to help. Before we make it all official, I want to make sure you are comfortable about pulling the trigger to get your sweet new bike, so please ask away any questions that you have!
Making it Official:
Ready to order your bike? Once you are ready to purchase a frame I will need a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot in the build queue. The ball is now officially rolling and the process has really begun!
The Build Queue:
I will give you an estimate of the time it will take from order to delivery. It is important to me to keep to my deadlines as best as possible and keep turn around time reasonable. Due to many factors however, it is possible for delivery dates to be subject to change and get pushed backward (or sometimes forward). I will do my best to communicate any hurdles on the horizon, as well as if your bike will be completed sooner than originally planned. The goal of my business is to create a bike that you will be exceptionally happy with for a long time, but I also want you to be happy with and enjoy the process of getting the bike itself. There are at times however, limitations to being a small, one-person shop, building complicated, custom tailored creations, so I hope you can understand timeframes may change some amount- if you find yourself uncomfortable with not being able to purchase a bike and have it immediately, then getting a handmade bike might not make sense for you. It may take some time, but in the end you will be getting a truly one of a kind, handmade and tailored bike that is built to your exact needs, and meant to keep you happily adventuring and rolling along for many years!
Fitting Your Bike: Once we are closer to your frame coming up in the build queue, we will schedule a full, in-person fitting. After the fitting I will draft your frame and send you a CAD image of your frame and its specs for you to approve. Ask away any questions, and once we are both comfortable and the design has been approved, I will order your materials and components to build your new bike! At this point I will need a payment of half the frame cost to cover materials and begin building.
Build Kit Selection: I have tons and tons of parts options for building up your complete bike, all at a range of price points to make things more affordable or more luxurious. I've made a special process for being able to offer a lot and avoid it being overwhelming, which you can learn more about on the Build Kit Options page.
Once we've configured a build kit that you are happy with, I'll need a payment to cover the parts total to be able to order everything.
Paint Selection: You can choose from a wide range of color and finishing options to make your bike look just how you'd like. You can learn more about the options on the Paint & Finishing Options page. The sooner we are able to have your finishing plan worked out, the sooner we can then get your frame into the painter's finishing queue, so ideally we will select your paint plan before fabrication has even started.
Build Time! I will now be building your sweet new bike! I will try to take some photos of the build in progress, so if you’d like to see photos please let me know.
Paint: Once your frame is completed I will be sending it off to be either powder-coated or wet painted, depending on the finish we have chosen for your bike. Timeframe for paint depends on how much work is in the painter’s queue, and can vary anywhere from three to as much as eight weeks for turn around. Finalizing your paint plan ahead of the frame's fabrication being completed allows it to officially get into the painters queue sooner, and reduce the time it takes to complete and deliver your finished bike.
Build Up: Once your frame returns from paint I will do the final frame finishing (re-chasing, facing and reaming the bottom bracket, head tube and seat tube) as well as giving the frame a treatment of an internal rust inhibitor.
If you ordered a complete bike I will be building up the bike and dialing it all in so that it will be ready to ride and hassle free.
Once everything is set, the bike can either be picked up or shipped.
Then… RIDE THAT BIKE!
Follow Up: For me, the bike really isn’t done until you’ve gotten out for a ride and are happy with the bike. I will be contacting you and very curious to follow up after you have ridden the bike to see what you think, if you have any questions, need anything and have any feedback.
Stay in touch! I get an enormous amount of vicarious enjoyment when I get updates on the rides and adventures my customers are up to, no matter how big or small. Please feel free to drop me a line or send me pictures of some of the rides you’ve been on!
Service, Maintenance, Replacement Parts, Upgrades: If I have built you a bike, I’m happy to service your bike for you as well as provide you with replacement parts or components and accessories down the road. If you have any questions how to maintain and take care of your bike… or anything… please let me know!
*There are times when my schedule may be packed and I can not take on repair work, or turn around for repairs and parts orders may take longer: if this is the case I will let you know. If you are local I can suggest a shop to help you in the meantime to make sure you get what you need in a timely fashion.
Initial Conversation: "What do you want your bike to do for you?"
We’ll first talk about what you are looking for- what do you want to do on your new bike, and what do you want your new bike to do for you? Whether you are entering the process of ordering a custom bike with a lot or very little technical knowledge and preferences, I’m here to help! If you find anything confusing, or want to talk through more of the process I’m happy to help. Before we make it all official, I want to make sure you are comfortable about pulling the trigger to get your sweet new bike, so please ask away any questions that you have!
Making it Official:
Ready to order your bike? Once you are ready to purchase a frame I will need a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot in the build queue. The ball is now officially rolling and the process has really begun!
The Build Queue:
I will give you an estimate of the time it will take from order to delivery. It is important to me to keep to my deadlines as best as possible and keep turn around time reasonable. Due to many factors however, it is possible for delivery dates to be subject to change and get pushed backward (or sometimes forward). I will do my best to communicate any hurdles on the horizon, as well as if your bike will be completed sooner than originally planned. The goal of my business is to create a bike that you will be exceptionally happy with for a long time, but I also want you to be happy with and enjoy the process of getting the bike itself. There are at times however, limitations to being a small, one-person shop, building complicated, custom tailored creations, so I hope you can understand timeframes may change some amount- if you find yourself uncomfortable with not being able to purchase a bike and have it immediately, then getting a handmade bike might not make sense for you. It may take some time, but in the end you will be getting a truly one of a kind, handmade and tailored bike that is built to your exact needs, and meant to keep you happily adventuring and rolling along for many years!
Fitting Your Bike: Once we are closer to your frame coming up in the build queue, we will schedule a full, in-person fitting. After the fitting I will draft your frame and send you a CAD image of your frame and its specs for you to approve. Ask away any questions, and once we are both comfortable and the design has been approved, I will order your materials and components to build your new bike! At this point I will need a payment of half the frame cost to cover materials and begin building.
Build Kit Selection: I have tons and tons of parts options for building up your complete bike, all at a range of price points to make things more affordable or more luxurious. I've made a special process for being able to offer a lot and avoid it being overwhelming, which you can learn more about on the Build Kit Options page.
Once we've configured a build kit that you are happy with, I'll need a payment to cover the parts total to be able to order everything.
Paint Selection: You can choose from a wide range of color and finishing options to make your bike look just how you'd like. You can learn more about the options on the Paint & Finishing Options page. The sooner we are able to have your finishing plan worked out, the sooner we can then get your frame into the painter's finishing queue, so ideally we will select your paint plan before fabrication has even started.
Build Time! I will now be building your sweet new bike! I will try to take some photos of the build in progress, so if you’d like to see photos please let me know.
Paint: Once your frame is completed I will be sending it off to be either powder-coated or wet painted, depending on the finish we have chosen for your bike. Timeframe for paint depends on how much work is in the painter’s queue, and can vary anywhere from three to as much as eight weeks for turn around. Finalizing your paint plan ahead of the frame's fabrication being completed allows it to officially get into the painters queue sooner, and reduce the time it takes to complete and deliver your finished bike.
Build Up: Once your frame returns from paint I will do the final frame finishing (re-chasing, facing and reaming the bottom bracket, head tube and seat tube) as well as giving the frame a treatment of an internal rust inhibitor.
If you ordered a complete bike I will be building up the bike and dialing it all in so that it will be ready to ride and hassle free.
Once everything is set, the bike can either be picked up or shipped.
Then… RIDE THAT BIKE!
Follow Up: For me, the bike really isn’t done until you’ve gotten out for a ride and are happy with the bike. I will be contacting you and very curious to follow up after you have ridden the bike to see what you think, if you have any questions, need anything and have any feedback.
Stay in touch! I get an enormous amount of vicarious enjoyment when I get updates on the rides and adventures my customers are up to, no matter how big or small. Please feel free to drop me a line or send me pictures of some of the rides you’ve been on!
Service, Maintenance, Replacement Parts, Upgrades: If I have built you a bike, I’m happy to service your bike for you as well as provide you with replacement parts or components and accessories down the road. If you have any questions how to maintain and take care of your bike… or anything… please let me know!
*There are times when my schedule may be packed and I can not take on repair work, or turn around for repairs and parts orders may take longer: if this is the case I will let you know. If you are local I can suggest a shop to help you in the meantime to make sure you get what you need in a timely fashion.