The most important thing about purchasing a new IF is proper fit. From the initial discussion about your custom frame purchase with your IF dealer to the delivery of your frame, our goal is to make you more than happy with your purchase. To make this possible we strongly recommend that you first visit your local authorized IF dealer and have a custom fitting done. Why? No matter how well we design, machine, tack, weld, finish, paint, and package your new IF frame, if it doesn't fit, it's the wrong bicycle for you.

To help your authorized dealer speed the process along, you can visit www.ifbikes.com and download our Custom Fit Form found in the FRAMES section of the site and start the process yourself. It is very important to fill in the information clearly, accurately, and thoroughly. Print slowly and clearly and take the time to precisely measure your body dimensions and the information about your existing bicycle (if that information is relevant). Remember, this is an investment in your health, comfort, riding pleasure, and performance — in essence your life. Skipping key questions or not filling out all of the information only forces us to contact your IF dealer and get the information needed. This can lead to delays in the design process, and consequently, a distancing of the delivery date. After you and your authorized dealer have filled out the information together we will need for your IF dealer to fax or email the completed Fit Form to start the design process.

The typical turnaround for custom design is 24-48 hours depending on the order load and the thoroughness and accuracy of the completed Fit Form. Once your final design is finished and you and your IF dealer have approved of it, your dealer will sign it, send it to IF World Headquarters, and we will add your new bicycle to the production flow. For titanium frames this will require a $1,000 non refundable deposit at the time of approval. After this point, no changes can be made. It is imperative for you to choose your paint scheme and decals before this time. Dragging your feet will increase the lead time for your new IF. Due to the nature of custom frames, custom geometry, customer specific materials, and custom paint design work, the lead time for your new IF will vary and the estimate we give your dealer is tentative only. This is not a promised delivery date to the store, but rather our best estimate as to the day that your new custom frame set will leave our Somerville factory.

Please remember that at Independent Fabrication, custom designing a bicycle is not an ethereal process. The combination of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus and honed intuition is the cornerstone of a proper fit. It is a logical mathematical equation coupled with years of fit experience and analysis. At IF, we have the resources and talent to combine all of the data provided and produce some of the most refined and best fitting framesets available. Ten years and thousands of custom designs later, the process has become more refined and the fabrication and finish techniques have only improved. We have become a leader in the world of custom bicycles because we really care about what we do. We design them, build them, and ride them. Every day.

Want us to build your ultimate custom frame? If you can't be fitted by a dealer, or would like to size yourself, you'll need to fill out out downloadable fit information worksheet:

Download Custom Fit Worksheet (215KB pdf)

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