My comment is reproduced here:
I've done the course and built a frame there.
Here's my advice - First off, treat it as a once in a lifetime thing. Unless you have space and access to a full workshop you will not be able to do it again. Accept that and you'll be fine.
Since you treat it as a once in a lifetime thing build something unique and for yourself.
Don't build something you can go out and buy anyway - so don't sit down and build a lugged fixed gear frame - you'll end up paired up with someone building something amazing an end up kicking yourself for being so unimaginative.
Do research frame building obsessively for a year or so beforehand. Haunt the frame building forums, ask stupid questions, read suzie Jacksons blog, read allt he construction blogs you can find, become an obsessive fan of Steve Garro, Richard Sachs, Sacha White, Robin Mather and their ilk!
Know your lugs and fittings, make absolutely certain months in advance that you know exactly what you are going to build and where every fitting is going to go -detail is everything. There's no point in turning up and then realising that you had forgotten to get Dave to order the stainless bottle cage reinfocing diamonds you'd seen somewhere else...
Dave has various standard tube sets in stock, don't be dogmatic about tubes, but if you want something fancy like an hourglass back end be sure to order it in advance and be prepared to argue with him about using it!
Dave is a fabulous teacher, I hadn't done any brazing since school, but by the end of the second day I was able to filet braze under his supervision. By the end of the fourth day I was doing joints on my own, but still made mistakes - his help in rectifying mistakes is really vital.
If you can, get some practice in with a torch beforehand - take a night class in jewellery making for example, that will teach you a lot about heat control.
It will cost you a lot of money and you have 4 days to build the frame - it's just enough time. You'll end up doing the fine finishing work at home.
The costs come down to this - travel to Lincolnshire (not especially cheap) - daily travel to the workshop (free if you take a bike, but logistically taking a bike, plus clothing etc. can be tricky - not to mention taking a famre and forks home at the end as well). There are no buses and it's a long walk from the nearest accommodation so you'll either need a car or two taxi fares a day!
I stayed in the local pub, it's a dump and overpriced, but it was comfortable enough.
I ate out in the evenings, this adds up. At lunchtimes I made sandwiches and ate them at the end of the runway watching the jets take off.
Conclusions: Fantastic experience, makes you realise how challenging making a frame actually is.
Cost: Seriously expensive, you could have Robin Mather build you something incredible for the same money with about the same wait time. I'd guess course cost (at whatever it is now) + materials (allow £350-400); accommodation (allow £150-200); food (allow £150); travel (
)
You can get value for money if you build something uber blingy. It doesn't get much more expensive to do something really pimpy. The base tube prices don't go up much for example (about £50-80 difference from memory).
Alternatives? There is a course in the USA at the UBI which by the time you've done the numbers is probably about the same price.
