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11-04-02, 01:54 PM
I've been thinking of racing cross for a while, and when a really, really good deal sprung up recently for a brand new IF Planet X frame, I couldn't say no. At my size (I'm 5'1"), there are very few stock frames that are small enough for me to ride, an IF being one of them.
So... I now have a beautiful 44cm IF frame that I need to build up. I've never built a bike before and I don't have all the money in the world to spend on it (I never thought I'd be able to afford an IF, even, but I got magically lucky), so I'd like to know where I can afford to "skimp" on parts and where I absolutely shouldn't. I'd like to get at least Ultegra-level parts throughout. I also need to take into account things like finding narrow handlebars and shorter (165 mm) cranks that will attach to a cross-specific crankset.
I'd like to have the bike built by the spring... which should be enough time (I hope!!) to find deals online and at bike swaps if I am patient.
Brief background: I ride on the road recreationally a lot, mountain bike occasionally, and I live in Massachusetts near Boston where races often get rained on, muddy, snowy, the works.
Any advice y'all can offer would be appreciated!
So... I now have a beautiful 44cm IF frame that I need to build up. I've never built a bike before and I don't have all the money in the world to spend on it (I never thought I'd be able to afford an IF, even, but I got magically lucky), so I'd like to know where I can afford to "skimp" on parts and where I absolutely shouldn't. I'd like to get at least Ultegra-level parts throughout. I also need to take into account things like finding narrow handlebars and shorter (165 mm) cranks that will attach to a cross-specific crankset.
I'd like to have the bike built by the spring... which should be enough time (I hope!!) to find deals online and at bike swaps if I am patient.
Brief background: I ride on the road recreationally a lot, mountain bike occasionally, and I live in Massachusetts near Boston where races often get rained on, muddy, snowy, the works.
Any advice y'all can offer would be appreciated!