realskiers

Jim2 -- the custom frame fitting and building process described in the book that I mentioned is fascinating.  Small family shop in England, personal service.  Everything starts with a road test to see how the rider moves and interacts with the bike.  After that, it's half engineering and half Jedi intuition, it seems, to get a perfect fit.  The chapter on visiting the wheel builder in California is equally interesting.

I have heard of Richard Sachs, but not the others.  Will check them out.  Independent Fab....I think Gary's good friend has a Ti mtn. bike made by them.  Very nice rig.  I took it for a little spin, and was impressed.  Very responsive, agile, instant connection bet. pedal and wheel.

Like you, I regret not waiting a year, putting a few more dollars in the piggy bank, and getting a REAL mtn. bike.  As much as I love my 29er (Fischer Paragon, '09), if I were to do it again, I would get a Ti or Reynolds frame, made in North America, not mass produced in China.  Whether I would go custom or std. cut, I'm not sure.  Moots is a company I would look at.  Niner makes some nice rigs too, but not in Ti.