New bike

[Peter88]

After the bike was in the LBS for a couple off days being repaired i have decided to have a second bike. Have looked around the online shops but nothing i have seen has jumped out at me.

So I am considering a self built, My thinking is that I will have a bike to the specs i want and will also learn more about care and maintence knowing howmit is all put together.

Has anyone else done this? or have any tips.

 

[buggi]

i think you should go for a self build. i recently had to change some bits and bobs on mine, so rather than drop it in the shop like i usually do, i asked friends to do it while i watched to learn. I was quite surprised at how actually easy it was. It's more about having the right tools if you ask me. they show a lot of stuff on youtube as well.

 

[richyx]

I think you will find that buying all the parts separately and building the bike yourself more expensive.

Possible buying a frame and then wheels and groupset could work out a similar price, but this could also prove more expensive.

You would enjoy building your own bke and it would feel more personal.

How about buying secondhand and upgrading/replacing necessary components.

What sort of a budget have you in mind?

 

[Sittingduck]

Both methods have their good points. I did the self-build for my first road bike and really enjoyed it, learned a lot and knew every inch of the bike. Probably cheaper to buy a bike off the peg but costs creep up if you decide to change the stem, wheels, saddle and tyres etc...

I got the bee out of my bonet when I built my own and the following 2 bikes were bought already built. There seem to be some bargains out there and once you have built one - that's probably enough. I think I will stick to buying full bikes in the future unless it's for a particular project, eg. strip and rebuild onto different frame & fork.

Either way it's fun to decide upon spec, budget, size, colour, etc.... have fun

 

[AideyM]

I've had immense fun building my own bike. Granted it's not new, in fact the frame is 15 years old but going the neo-retro way has had bits winging their way from far flung corners of eBayland. Everytime a new bit has arrived, the excitement has peaked again. As it has slowly developed I have gained knowledge of the way it works and made contacts worldwide. I have chosen every aspect of the build myself and by taking my time I have built the bike I always wanted but could never afford at a price I could afford.

Now buoyed by this build I've started work on a recumbent trike. In doing so I have already built my own wheels and have the tubing ready for welding up and I can't wait.

It may not be for every one but I am definitely a strong advocate for the home build option

 

[accountantpete]

Try and get a frame with the headset fitted - otherwise you will have to learn all about headsets (which is no bad thing but can be frustrating).

Apart from getting the correct bottom bracket (basically shell width and axle length) it's more or less straight forward providing you have the right tools.

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

I managed to find a frame that sort of fits me and built the rest with odd bits. I just fitted a non-wobbly back wheel (the last one was second hand 16 years ago when I built it) and had to change the rear mech and chain as well. This comes from messing with scrap donated bikes, under the pretext of having no money, but I really do it to avoid doing housework. Not sure how long I can drag this out for before someone gets wise to this ruse though.
Regards Gordon

 

[Peter88]

Spent a couple of days looking at component prices on line (Chain Reaction, Wiggle and the like) also went through the listings on fleabay to get an idea of a price for the complete bike. Whilst nsurprised at the total it gave me something to compare to a complete bike.

Went to Leisurelakes in Bury today for a look around and was rather taken with a Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc.

 

[guitarpete247]

My road bike is one I made up from a frame I bought in '82 and my old bike as a donor. I've since added new/better components but it is still basically a 1980's bike. I would like do build another when I get the garage sorted (it's full of stuff from 2 houses GF's and mine) to give me room to store another let alone work on one. I would probably start with an ebay donor frame then look for parts.
Check out BBC4 tonight at 8:00 for ideas on what you can do if money is no object and can travel the world .

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Peter88 what's your budget? these are a bit of a bargain at the moment http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-kilmeston/ but might be above your budget.

 

[Peter88]

Was looking at £5-600 if buying looking at more if building over a period of time.

 

[monkeypony]

Generally Speaking, you can buy a full bike with 'whatever' group set cheaper than you can buy the same frame and 'whatever' group set individually.

Unless you have can get away with sourcing components from ebay and the like, which will take you much longer to accumulate the components, or have a VERY friendly LBS who will supply you at trade.

 

[Davidc]

For my and my family's bikes I've bought complete (new and second hand) and bought worn-out second hand and rebuilt it.

I have twice costed self build - buying all the bits new and building a bike - and given up because buying new is cheaper.

I'm convinced that buying very good secondhand bikes is the most economical even if it's on the basis that some things will be changed to my taste. I've also enoyed rebuilding older second hand bikes, and haven't found any difficulty dealing with headsets or bottom brackets, even before the arrival of tutorials on the web. They're only a few caged bearings (packaged sealed ones on newer bikes), depends on how mechanically adventurous and capable you are.

I'd love to build a bike up from a set of selected parts, but it's just too expensive.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

For my and my family's bikes I've bought complete (new and second hand) and bought worn-out second hand and rebuilt it.

I have twice costed self build - buying all the bits new and building a bike - and given up because buying new is cheaper.

I'm convinced that buying very good secondhand bikes is the most economical even if it's on the basis that some things will be changed to my taste. I've also enoyed rebuilding older second hand bikes, and haven't found any difficulty dealing with headsets or bottom brackets, even before the arrival of tutorials on the web. They're only a few caged bearings (packaged sealed ones on newer bikes), depends on how mechanically adventurous and capable you are.

I'd love to build a bike up from a set of selected parts, but it's just too expensive.

Up until about seven, eight years ago I nearly always either refurbished second hand or self built, and had some cracking bikes. These days with the family grown up and the mortgage paid off I don't have need to buy second hand and, as others have said, buying new tends to be cheaper than self build these days. I also don't have the shed full of bike bits or the time needed for self build or second hand, hence the shop brought fixed rather a home brewed one.