Bicycle Mechanics - Just finished my new ride...

Been out of the cycling game for quite some time now, but decided to get back in when i saw a crossbike frame at my LBS for almost nothing. So i decided to build it up... did everything but install the headset, BB, and build the wheels(really want to learn how to do that!).

Some observations:

- took longer than i thought... found myself getting frustrated when things didnt work out completely right. My single tracked mind prolly didnt help.

-didnt save much money(i spent around $350) compared to the comparable bikes in the shops. But I got higher quality in important places(Headset, BB, wheels).

-I should have made an attempt to calculate my gear ratios before buying parts. :) My gears are way too tall, i need to go from a 40t chainring to a 34t. My two tallest gears are unuseable, and my shortest gear wont get me up the super steep incline.

-Bike shops hide bunches of takeoff parts from new bikes, used, and returned parts in the back. Gotta ask for those.

-I never liked front deraileurs, so i didnt get one.

-I cant stop buying crap for it. :P

So I wanted to thank everyone here for posting... i got answers to almost all of my questions, and learned a lot by reading the archives. And lastly, here is a pic...

You know all those gears you say you need and don't have. You might find them if you go ahead and get that FD you don't like. You'll find another 8 or 9 gears, I'll bet. Looks very nice!

Amazing how easy it is to spend money on such a simple thing as a bike, isn't it? Just read an article that put the average cost for a reasonable hardcore cyclist, which most of us posting here probably are, is about $2300 per year. I would never have guessed that much, but is probably the reason I refuse to add up what I actually spend. Don't tell my wife.

Originally posted by ParamountScapin
You know all those gears you say you need and don't have. You might find them if you go ahead and get that FD you don't like. You'll find another 8 or 9 gears, I'll bet. Looks very nice!

Bah! :) I dont need any more gears, just need to tweak the 8 i got. :) In fact, i hate deraileurs in general. If it had been cost effective, I would have sprung for one of those new 7 speed internally geared rear hubs.



Amazing how easy it is to spend money on such a simple thing as a bike, isn't it? Just read an article that put the average cost for a reasonable hardcore cyclist, which most of us posting here probably are, is about $2300 per year. I would never have guessed that much, but is probably the reason I refuse to add up what I actually spend. Don't tell my wife.

Yup, i remember those days... in high school i tried to be the poster child for the hardcore cyclist. My part time job paycheck went straight to the LBS. Now i am just happy to ride... As much as i drool over the expensive rides with campy components, Ti bits and pieces, and such; I dont think I will ever be a "hardcore" cyclist again.

u can make it a singlespeed =]

Originally posted by tFUnK
u can make it a singlespeed =]

believe me, i thought about it. :) Seattle really isnt the greatest city for single speeds...

Originally posted by ParamountScapin
Just read an article that put the average cost for a reasonable hardcore cyclist, which most of us posting here probably are, is about $2300 per year. I would never have guessed that much,.

I wish... Try about $3,400 per adult in our household -- net -- over the past 11 years (which is as far back as my "Quicken" records go).


but is probably the reason I refuse to add up what I actually spend.

Like PS said, perhaps it's not good to keep track of every penny because you'd be VERY surprised what you'd find: I have and was scared by what I found. Admittedly, my records include the cost of weekend tandem rallies and organized ride events where we paid fees to attend, lodging, food, etc... Bikes account for over 1/2 (all of our bicycles were replaced over the last 5 years), cycling apparel about 8%, tools about $1k, accessories/racks/training equipment and bike upgrades over 10%, and tires, tubes, chains and lubes to the tune of about $600/yr.


Don't tell my wife.

Fortunately, she's a co-conspirator and the tandems account for well over 1/2 of the bicycle inventory & other costs along with most all of the "event" expenses. I'd hate to think what it would be if I added in the cycling vacations and airfare! Oh yea, the security system for the garage and house isn't included either.

However, it's fair to say that cycling is our only major hobby. No more boats, no RV aside from the truck we haul our tandems around in, only one motorcycle -- which is my daily transportation, no vacation properties or time shares. So, on the whole, maybe $3,400/yr hasn't been that bad. Moreover, that number will come down each year as we're done upgrading the bicycle fleet for the foreseeable future.

Bottom Line: You can spend nearly all of your disposable income on this stuff if you're not careful and tandems can be expensive.

Hey, your seat post is unlocked, a very unsafe situation:D

Nice bike! :)