Curtlo Custom Road

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Direct from Curtlo

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mtn

Bike Setup:
60cm (about, it's custom)
98 vintage Ultegra/Dura-ace mix
Mavic Heliums
Carbon fork
Thompson seatpost
King Headset
Easton stem

Summary:
Wonderful bike, and great experience working with Doug. At twice the price this would be a good deal.

I had Doug do a custom 60cm frame with bowed seat stays, 1 1/8" headset, and a slightly sloping top tube. The result was everything I'd hoped for. Most large steel frames look goofy and spindly, and I didn't want that Giant TCR compact look. The result is a very normal looking, and great riding frame. It always takes a while to get a custom frame, but Doug's turnaround was better than I expected, and he was always courteous and helpful on the phone. His craftsmanship is very good, better than a lot of boutique bikes I've seen, perhaps not as good is Independent or Seven, but at a fraction of the price, you couldn't ask for more.

Somehow Doug managed to make a frame which is more stable at speed than the Trek, yet handles very quickly and precisely, more like the Bianchi MegaPro or Breezer Lightning. I will admit that carbon bikes, when done right, are smoother and can sprint better than steel, but fit issues are hard to resolve on them, and you have to like the dead feel of a carbon frame. In comparison the Curtlo is "springier" feeling, which is the feel you want with steel, and the fit and handling are impeccable.

I'm about 210lbs, and when really cranking I can manage to flex the BB a little, but then I have older Ultegra cranks so I'm willing to bet if I got the newer design it would fix a lot of that. The Curtlo flexes less than any steel frame I've been on, yet offers a very nice ride with the curved seat stays. Vibration damping isn't close to a full carbon frame, but much better than aluminum, I guess it's the classic steel ride, only a little better than I have experienced on other steel frames. It seems odd that this bike seems to ride smoother than the Ti bikes I've ridden, but then that might have a lot to do with the seat stays and fillet brazing.

Overall, amazing deal from a great guy. Honestly, if the frame was $1200 it would still be a great deal, the fit, the custom touches, and the beautiful fillet brazing make this frame a keeper. Now I only with Doug made full suspension mountain bikes, I'd get one in a heartbeat.

Strengths:
Wonderful fit, beautiful fillet brazing, great handling, not to stiff, not too soft.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't have the light weight and ride damping characteristics of a good carbon frame, but the steel frame has it's own favorable attributes.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Ti MegaPro, Trek 5500 OCLV, Kestrel 200EMS, Breezer Lightning, Cannondale R300, Bianchi Trofeo

Price Paid:  $945.00 at Curtlo

Favorite Ride:
four passes

Bike Setup:
True Temper Sub3 fork, King headset, Thomson stem & seatpost, Easton carbon bar, 10sp Dura Ace, Ksyrium SL (in total 7.7kg)

Summary:
After lusting for a steel frame for years, I bought the bike about a month ago directly from Doug Curtis and am extremely satisfied with the bike and the service provided by Doug. The reason for buying from him was that he was able to build me a 1.25kg full custom steel frame for less than US$1000!!! The whole bike build up is currently 7.7kgs. That is substantially less weight at substantially less money than any of the competition can offer - and I did a lot of research (Pegoretti, IF, Seven etc).

Dealing with Doug was always a pleasure. He was very helpfull and professional and was able to build me a bike on short notice in two weeks. He also helped me sourcing an, at that stage, very scarce 10sp Dura Ace Groupset at a very good price and went out of his way to arrange for me to be able to collect my bike on a business trip to the US. It was certainly the best customer service experience I had for a while!

The bike itself exceeded all expectations. I had a Merlin Agilis before and was quite curious to compare the two, but have to say that the Curtlo blew the Merlin away in (almost) all categories: it is lighter (in real life by 150g), stiffer and at least as comfortable. It climbs better (although that might be partly because of the new Dura Ace crankset) and it is the best descender I have ever ridden. The only advantage the Merlin has in the indestructibility of its titanium finish. I had mine for two long seasons and it still looks like new, we will see how the paintwork on the Curtlo will last.
All in all the frame (True Temper S3 with banana curved seatstays and Breezer dropouts)has an absolutely amazing ride and, after 10 years on top of the range carbon and titanium frames, I can only say one thing - steel is real!

I have to say, however, that I have one issue with the frame and that is the right chainstay. It is just to wide and we were struggling to set up the cranks without the small ring touching the chainstays. Apparently, the problem is that the S3 chainstays are not supposed to be flattened (like he would normally do with the OX Platinum tubing). We have been able to set it up (using a spacer for the bb - but don't tell Shimano), but Doug, when I told him about it, immediately offered to build me a new frame!!! So much for customer service!

If you haven't realised by now, I am a big fan of the guy by now and can only recommend him to anyone: If you are interested in a steel frame, or any frame for that matter, check out his website www.curtlo.com, the prices are unreal and the frames are first class. Just don't be scared off by the pictures on the website, which doesnt seem to have been updated for a few years, remember, everything is full custom - he can build whatever you want whether it is retro or state of the art and you won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
Beautiful craftmanship; very competitive price; light weight (1.25kg for medium sloping frame); brillant climber and even better descender in short: the perfect ride!

Weaknesses:
right chainstay to wide (I have therefore reduced my overall rating to 4 stars until this has been sorted out by Doug, although my heart bleeds seeing such a beautiful frame only receiving four stars)

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500 OCLV; Merlin Agilis