We are thrilled that you have chosen Hampsten Cycles to design you one of the best bicycles you will ever own. In order to insure your highest level of satisfaction we request your co-operation in providing as much information as possible for your new build. We ask for:

• Current reach (seatpost center to handlebar center, horizontal)
  
• Handlebar height from the ground to center of bars
  
• Saddle height in relation to BB
  
• Your weight and height
  
• What type of riding do you do primarily? Or what type of riding will you be doing with this bike?
  
• Please tell us about any physical restrictions or discomfort you have while riding

Feel free to call or email, as discussion is an important part of buying a custom bike.

Typically the procedure is:

• We discuss your new build, including the above points and parts to be used
  
• We give a firm price quote for the build as discussed and we’ll mention some laughably optimistic turn-around time
  
• You send us a deposit
  
• We then send you a drawing of the proposed build, and we will incorporate any changes as needed
  
• Once the drawing is dialed we order your frame and wait for the outcome
  
• Framebuilder tells us when the frame is almost ready and we send your second invoice
  
• Frame arrives at HampCo Towers, we finish and assemble if necessary, then ship to you
  
• Your new frame or wholebike arrives, you go for a ride, all is happy with the world

Payment:

We ask for a 50% deposit on a frame or whole bike unless there is a long lead-time (i.e. Tournesol lugged). Personal or cashier’s checks are fine, but we do wait for personal checks to clear before shipping (we do not currently accept credit cards).

Lead times:

Titanium frames take 4-8 weeks. Welded steel, aluminum and carbon frames are running 6 to 10 weeks but there are exceptions. Fancy paint – or painted titanium -adds more time; racks, fenders, and hard-to-source parts add their own inertia times. We do everything we can to get you your bike in a timely manner however the exact schedule of your bike’s construction is not always in our hands. We ask you to be patient if yours happens to take a little more time than quoted – your new Hampsten will be well worth the wait.

Shipping and assembly:

We offer two options for customers buying a built-up bike from us:

Option 1:
We assemble your bike ourselves, pack it for shipping, and send it along to you. You will need to do some minor adjustments and re-assembly.

Pros: Your bike arrives with the major build-up done.

Cons: Although we do a thorough and careful job of packing, shipping a whole bike can be risky. The physical reality of a frame in a box with all its parts increases the chances of something unfortunate happening in transit.

Option 2:
We can gather all the parts here at Hampsten Towers and send them and the frame in separate boxes to your favorite local shop for assembly. We call them to schedule the build and give them a heads-up when we ship, but you communicate directly with your shop about your build. Most shops charge $125-175 for assembly.

That pretty much covers it, but if you have any questions at all please ask. We are honored that you are considering buying from us and we feel certain that you will be absolutely delighted with your new frame or whole bike.

Cheers,
Andy and Steve Hampsten