Custom Built Bicycles
Over 20 Years of Bicycle Customization Experience
Topanga Creek Outpost has been building quality custom bicycles for many years since we opened our shop in Los Angeles in early 2000. We pride ourselves in offering customized bicycles crafted with the highest standards based on your needs, budget and style to make each bike uniquely yours. People come to us from around the world because they trust us for our craftsmanship, professionalism, aesthetic abilities and high degree of personable service. Our goal is to make bicycle riding a great experience for you so you continue to ride and feel proud of your bike.
When you decide to work with us and vice versa, it's important that you feel comfortable and have a great overall experience as we help you design your bike. The moment you step into our shop in Topanga you'll feel relaxed because of the retreat-like forest surroundings. We are personable and will help guide you through the entire process from initial design to component specification to work completion with straight approach and open communication. We will tell you what works, what doesn't and never over promise.
Types of Customization We Offer
Full custom build from the frame up
Frame is the soul of a bicycle. In order to find the right frame that suits your riding style and needs, we work with many highly regarded frame manufacturers from North America. For comfort, function and durability, most touring bikes are made out of steel for plush long distance rides. For those who desire the ultimate in strength, weight saving and stiffness, there are titanium frames that will meet your needs as well.
Being a designated Surly's Destination Shop, we can build up just about any Surly bikes to meet your expectations. Whether you want a legendary Surly Disc Trucker for pannier road touring or a do-it-all Surly Ogre for some serious backpacking, we have the experience to help you design the perfect bike for you.
Small modifications on a complete bike
Sometimes a small modification or component upgrade of an existing complete bike can make a big difference in ride quality, handling, and comfort. Depending on the individual's specific riding style and purpose, we can help transform a bike into something truly unique and special to fit the needs of the rider.
For those who want the ultimate experience for cycling expedition and not lose the modern convenience of a charged cell phone and lighting system, opt for the best of the best upgrade — Rohloff internal hub paired with SON dynamo hub and Sinewave USB charger. We have years of experience installing this "dream combo" to help turn your bike into one incredible riding machine.
![](/img/cache/son_hub_sinewave_reactor_usb_4f14d06e15ce430993ec1cd5f86a624d_w1.jpg)
Component Highlight - Rohloff SPEEDHUB
Rohloff Speedhub is a German-made internally geared hub that's crafted with the highest precision, quality, and workmanship to provide cyclists with years of trouble-free service. Rohloff is one of our favorite components to recommend because they are extremely low maintenance, the gears shift easily and smoothly while pedaling or stationary, and linear gear ratios that cover a wide range make riding the bike a truly joyful experience.
Engineered with a advanced planetary gear system, Rohloff hubs are designed to be extremely efficient and strong. Watch this Rohloff Production Video to geek out on how Rohloff hub is made.
Invest in a pair of light-weight and strong hand-laced wheels
Wheels are often overlooked because people tend to pay most attention on frames and gruppos. Shaving a few grams off the wheels versus component such as the derailleur has far more performance gain due to reduced rotational weight of the wheels and lesser inertia required for each wheel rotation.
Here at Topanga Creek Outpost we own the very advanced Phil Wood Spoke Cutting & Threading Machine that enables us to cut and thread any spoke to any lengh, and allows us to hand lace various wheel sizes with precision and efficiency.
Make an Appointment For Your Purchase
To provide you with the best experience possible, we encourage you to make an appointment online for your next custom build bike purchase. Appointment allows us to dedicate time to go over your purchase needs and conduct complimentary bike fitting if needed.
Custom Projects Gallery
![We couldn't be happier with how amazing this all custom Cross Check came out](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_cb4fa9cb8a9e6caf50460ecffbd9e912_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![From Whisky stem to Velo Orange crankset, no detail is too small for this custom Cross Check](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_2_9ebcdf90b5672cfa04f79d8b2c582328_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Beautiful Velo Orange Grand Cru crankset on this awesome Cross Check build](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_3_415e0c3084ec18707333cfeaeb740791_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![This all custom Cross Check sure is a looker](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_4_f76607a64a5985e1a52803647fa59a5b_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![CNC-machined IRD brake levers on this custom Cross Check](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_5_1d8887c8cafbdf0722f27e985f457a45_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Box One derailleur on this custom Cross Check](/img/cache/surly_cross_check_black_custom_guy_6_9947ba50d8742693c51ab3c09c804251_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![This is an all custom Disc Trucker with Rohloff internal hub in the rear and SON hub in front](/img/cache/surly_disc_trucker_lime_6_fc882996db79ad6447f4de53c61d5831_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Julia's custom Surly Bridge Club singlespeed with lots of US-made components](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_custom_singlespeed_fbf79ab1cf072f7f3677ec8e45b854f8_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Julia's custom Surly Bridge Club is a total stunner](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_1_13635599e5ef8ec295e2a3f18cb6f685_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![This custom Bridge Club for Julia is one of the coolest bikes we built this year](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_2_b78e36636023edb2a1614f90975e752f_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Julia's custom Bridge Club is a total beauty](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_3_7cb4ec4b4b851896b58264957b2b9325_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Lots of American-made components on Julia's custom Bridge Club](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_4_0b30133bf325767e3f72ee11059dc85b_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![The SimWorks handlebar by Nitto looks total killer on Julia's Bridge Club](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_5_95131e26018adadb7732cf4d66fdd3ce_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Tasteful purple accents all over Julia's custom Bridge Club](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_6_799cef3a161abbc06cc68c1ca05c0604_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![The American-made Paul Klamper brakes is a nice addition to Julia's Bridge Club](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_7_bfa5a18be9d2567428f5fa394c168d6b_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![The American-made White Industries crank is a must for Julia's Bridge Club](/img/cache/surly_bridge_club_black_julia_8_34158c50408078217bd75fb5b4231ff5_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![One-of-a-kind special artwork on this beautifully crafted Larkin frame](/img/cache/crust_custom_art_pan21_c79a0c3cf4240cf5a6de76d9400fa5ff_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Sal and his all-custom Topanga Creek Outpost titanium adventure bike](/img/cache/lynskey_titanium_tco_custom_sal_1_28788ec4046de1c89b506007d39221da_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Topanga Creek Outpost titanium frame was custom made by Lynskey](/img/cache/lynskey_titanium_tco_custom_sal_2_7a0e4a9cf8d98d7bbed436188aae2416_w250_h350_sc.jpg)
![Sal's TCO titanium bike turned out amazing](/img/cache/lynskey_titanium_tco_custom_sal_3_a850e7bb8037250070ded0c000d5303f_w250_h350_sc.jpg)