Build-a-bike: Fun or Dumb?


Hello all,

 I wanted to get the community's opinions (or at least start a discussion about) the merits to building your own road bike from all the bits and pieces. I'm looking to start a long term, piece-by-piece project...purely for the fun of it.

I have no experience with bike maintenance, but am reasonably adept with tools (and can read how-to guides like the dickens!). I'm not under the misconception that this will save me money...I'm fully aware that it will end up costing way more than if I'd just bought a new bike BUT

I thought it would be a great experience.

Summary: I'm really just looking for opinions/thoughts/horror stories/success stories/humorous antidotes (not anecdotes)/tips

for how to accomplish this behemoth (at least from my vantage point) task.

Thank you.

p.s. If it's not abudantly clear, I'm new here. So, hello everyone!

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Permalink Reply by Chuckchuck on December 3, 2010 at 11:00am
Best way to learn about bikes is building one. I build my first racing bike 30 years ago and it is still rolling. I can now do any maintenance now. Good luck.
Permalink Reply by knowbody on December 3, 2010 at 11:36am
nothing like good old fashioned dumb fun to learn you some experience.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on December 3, 2010 at 12:10pm
Building one teaches you a hell of a lot about how things work together and what works together and what doesn't.

In the same vein, I've built every desktop computer I've owned for the past 15 years. The research on what model of A is compatible with B can be tedious, but you'll get exactly what you want in the end.

Happy reading and wrenching!
Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on December 3, 2010 at 3:00pm
Welcome Matt!
Permalink Reply by Rick norris on December 3, 2010 at 6:29pm
I vote fun...

Cost...unless you need the latest and greatest stuff, you can search for 2-3 year old new stuff (NOS) and mount it on a cool vintage frame, the cost should be reasonable

You can make it look likr you want

Or maybe vintage Campy with friction DT shifters on a carbon frame? Yeah I'm weird
Permalink Reply by djm on December 4, 2010 at 7:55am
H3N3 said:
Someone I know built a bike from parts mostly ordered online, and ended up somewhere around $2,000 invested (and that's a track bike.)

It helps to collect parts at swap meets and heavily-discounted clearance sales. Buying a bicycle one part at a time at retail price is far more expensive than buying a complete bicycle. This approach works if you can be flexible about your build.
Permalink Reply by Matt T on December 4, 2010 at 1:35pm
Wow. Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments and helpful advice! I'm getting more and more excited about this project, and, with my wife now on board, I'm pumped to get started on it.

Where does one find these "swap meets?" And, any tips/recommendations about good ways to find pieces so I can get going?

Thanks again, everyone!
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 4, 2010 at 4:15pm
I second this.

I find more good parts at hipster garage sales than most people believe.

Too bad that there aren't many sales when the snow starts falling. I'll be sure to hit the swap in Feb.

H3N3 said:
Here's one in the 'burbs Feb 11:
http://www.chicagowinterbikeswap.com/

The Chicago Bike Swap (presented by Active Trans and Bike Winter) is going to be Feb. 26.
I need to update this listing to reflect the new name:
http://www.thechainlink.org/events/bike-winter-swap-meet-and-1
It should be at least as big as the Harper College swap, and there will be beer. Real beer.

There are a few others presented by school bike orgs and such but I don't have time to search right now.
Permalink Reply by Don P on December 5, 2010 at 6:49pm
The build project should be fun and educational. You have the right outlook and expectations. Being resonably adept with tools, as well as willing to take the time to research will serve you well. Having the wife onboard is a big plus.

Since your vision is to build a road bike, find a picture of one you really like. This can be the template for the bits and pieces you end up buying.

This is also a great opportunity to find a frame in the exact size you body needs. So, if you are unclear on the size of frame you need, there are several good sites that will assist. To get the fit right, at least 8 different measurements are required. The other benefit is that you will also know the proper crank and stem length, along with handlebar width. When the bike fits your body properly, it is like your favorite pair of most comfortable shoes - it becomes part of you.

It is also a great time to look at the material the frame is built with. Lots of choices, lots of decisions. If you are looking at a classic steel frame build, try to stay away from non-standard. 70's and older French frames are a good example, as they require sizes of parts (BB, headset) that are harder to obtain.


I'm sure your LBS will be happy to sell you parts, and ebay is a great source to find the right frame, and the other "bits and pieces", especially when you know what you want. Swaps are also great, with the benefit of talking to many people face-to face, with the same interests.

Unless you have a real taste for adventure, leave wheelbuilding to the pros, at least for this build. Really nice stock sets are widely available (along with the usual c**p).

In addition to the tools you already have, some specialized bike tools will be needed. Since you are not in a rush, buy the tools as you need them, rather than a set. Also, if you pay attention to the bits and pieces you buy, you may only need to carry one or two tools when you ride.

The Sheldon Brown website is an excellent source of information, as well as practical tips and tricks to get your bike running right.

Check the groups on Chainlink, join the ones appropriate to the bike you are building, and when in doubt, ask. Members are happy to assist.
Permalink Reply by Don P on December 6, 2010 at 3:15am
Sorry I forgot to include this in my last post:

Check out Sly Red's Blackadder Project in the British Bicycles of Chicago group. He didn't build a roadbike, but the project lays out a great template of how to conceive, execute and build a bike.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 6, 2010 at 3:21am
And like Howard mentioned earlier about distinctive-looking bikes, Sly is ending up with a bike that is distinctive and recognizable. It'd be hard for a thief to sell such a bike and even harder for the buyer to get away with riding it anywhere in this city without someone soon recognizing it.

Don P said:
Sorry I forgot to include this in my last post:

Check out Sly Red's Blackadder Project in the British Bicycles of Chicago group. He didn't build a roadbike, but the project lays out a great template of how to conceive, execute and build a bike.
Permalink Reply by SlyRed on December 6, 2010 at 11:34pm
Thanks for the props, guys (SlyRed blushing). Nice to hear such good comments about Blackadder. My Bianchi road bike project from earlier this year was very fulfilling for me, too. I built it from the frame up with components of my own choosing. It's 98% Dura Ace 7700 series. I built the wheels myself on Tiagra hubs and Velocity Deep V rims. I'm sure it's not to everyone's taste, but it too is distinctive enough to be a bad choice for theft. How many yellow Bianchis have you ever seen.

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