Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Road Bike : Buy or Build

I've decided I want a Road Bike for next spring, I know it's a little early to think about this but if I build, now's the time to start thinking / saving. I would really like to get a Surly Crosscheck frame and build myself a bike. The LHT is not out of the question either. On the other hand, I could just go and get an entry level road bike such as but not limited to a Trek 1000, I realize there are several others.

I know the Surly will easily cost me 2X what a Trek 100 (for example) will, but...I do like to work with mechanical things and I DO want to learn about the mechanics of the bicycle itself.

So....in your personal opinion, is it worth the 2X expense to learn the bicycle or just buy a stock one.

I kinda figure there'll be some that'll say: You just answered your own question but...I don't feel I have. IF there are any others that have built their own, or had the same dilemma, I'd love to hear your comments either with satisfactory results or the other way around :)

tnx

Hopefully, Jumborider will chime in here....he just built the Ultimate LHT!

Here's the thread about his build
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=307973

Tom, I read that! What a Beau-tiful job!

I've decided I want a Road Bike for next spring, I know it's a little early to think about this but if I build, now's the time to start thinking / saving. I would really like to get a Surly Crosscheck frame and build myself a bike. The LHT is not out of the question either. On the other hand, I could just go and get an entry level road bike such as but not limited to a Trek 1000, I realize there are several others.

I know the Surly will easily cost me 2X what a Trek 100 (for example) will, but...I do like to work with mechanical things and I DO want to learn about the mechanics of the bicycle itself.

So....in your personal opinion, is it worth the 2X expense to learn the bicycle or just buy a stock one.

I kinda figure there'll be some that'll say: You just answered your own question but...I don't feel I have. IF there are any others that have built their own, or had the same dilemma, I'd love to hear your comments either with satisfactory results or the other way around :)

tnx

Buy a stock one...take it apart and rebuild it!!!! Best of both worlds.

Trust me...I tried to build up my first roadie with a budget of $1500 and ended up spending $3000 plus and ended up spending more at the bike shop to get them to fix the things I screwed up.

I just built my Clyde Bike and went with a MTB frame build up due to it being slightly cheaper. I have about $700 into mine and my last $250 in parts was purchased as an employee of a bike shop so I had great savings there.

You will need access to many special tools or to a shop that will help you build a frame up. It CAN be done, but it will almost always cost you more than you plan on.

In my case I still feel it was worth it. I've only been back on this bike for about 2 weeks, and I've lost 7 lbs so far in that time and just for that it's worth it.

Good Luck!

I had a great time finding what I wanted in a bike and having it built. The major cost of my bike was the wheel-set which is probably overboard for anyone not going into combat. But I would do things differently if I already had a usable bike to ride, and mechanical aptitude.

If I had a usable bike and mechanical aptitude I would purchase a good used bike in the frame style I was looking to ride. I wanted a tourer for the rugged ability and all of the mounting options it afforded me. I also liked the relaxed geometry of the frame. I knew I wanted steel lugged and not aluminum, titanium, or carbon. So that is where I would start. I would search Craigslist, Ebay, and any other good place to find used bikes.

I would then decide what parts I would want on the bike and in what order I would want them. Even if I had the ability I would still have a pro build my wheels because of my weight. If a wheel would taco on me due to my weight I don't think I could face riding again. That is my own little foolishness.

Then I would look to find the parts used or on sale. The bike would be a project. Surly frames are fairly inexpensive and can be found used. There are some great classic bikes out there as well. The 1980 Trek tourers are said to be great.

I also looked at purchasing a tourer off the rack. At first the Trek 520 and some others were in my sights until I realized that I would want to upgrade many of the parts right off the bat, and wheel-set upgrades would be costly. Surly CC and LHT both came in a complete bike and people were saying that they were a good package for the deal. Again, it was the upgrade issue and the complete LHT was out of stock until July. I could not see myself purchasing the CC because the picture of the guy riding it (http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html) on the site turned me off. Yeah, that is a pretty cheesy reason not to buy a bike, but look at that guy.

So there you have it. I decided to have a shop build a LHT to my specifications. I am happy with the decision even though it doubled the price of the bike. I know that the bike is here to stay and the parts are quality. If I purchase a custom built frame in the future I will be able to move the parts from the LHT to the new bike. At first I thought I would want a custom, but the LHT fits me very well.

A lot of valid points have been made here. I've done all of the above. Built a bike from a frame on up, bought bikes off the rack and stole parts from one bike to build another. I learned much of this in self-defense, keeping my son on bikes. He was 5'7" when we first started riding and now he is 6'7". As you can imagine, we have built and rebuild several bikes for him alone over the years.

I would agree with Chrisvu05 about the cost of learning your own repairs. You're going to screw up in the learning process, maybe ruin some parts. These days, with sealed bearings, it's a little easier. In the days when everything was cup and cone, it was easier to ruin parts. You will always save money with an off the rack bike because manufacturers buy components in bulk and have frames made in China, or Taiwan. I've known guys to buy complete bikes just to strip the components off for their build. You will always pay twice to build a frame up bike if you have to pay somebody to do it. As Jumbo Rider said, though, there is satisfaction in knowing all the parts you selected were hand selected, by you and are quality parts.

Personally, I have enjoyed learning to wrench my own bikes. It's not difficult, but does involve the acquisition of special tools. It's been worth it, for me, because I have three growing kids and to keep them on bikes has meant much shuffling of parts from one frame to another.

What I would do, if I were you, would be to buy an off the rack bike. Buy the ride first, go for the frame that fits and is comfortable. Components second; for a road bike, try to avoid anything that has parts below the Tiagra level. 105's are better. If you can find a bike in your price range with at least some Ultegra parts, all the better. Wheels you want a standard three cross 32 spoke minimum wheel. Do not buy the fancy wheels with 12 spokes. You will probably kill them. On the other hand, if the price is right (figure on about a grand for the bike I've just described) and you can factor in another 2-300 for a HD set of wheels purchased seperately, go for it. You can always save those fancy wheels for when you've lost weight. Use them as your goal to get down to whatever your target is. Or sell them off, whatever. Once you have your bike, then set your goal to do most of your own repairs. Learn to adjust the derailleurs, learn to replace cables, chains. Heck, strip the bike down to the frame and put it back together. You can learn a lot on the Internet and in places like this. Most important of all, have fun!

Mark

I I could not see myself purchasing the CC because the picture of the guy riding it (http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html) on the site turned me off. Yeah, that is a pretty cheesy reason not to buy a bike, but look at that guy.

OMG - what the heck is that guy wearing:eek: :lol:

Yikes to that picture...

Stupid question time: what does LHT stand for?

Long Haul Trucker

LHT=love
LHT=Beauty
LHT=Big Liberty Blue.

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate all. I 'think' I'll buy a properly fit trek 1000. They're affordable enough and like some have said, you can part it out so to speak, remove and add. And...I could probably afford one next month.

As a side note, I was driving back from a company meeting last night and noticed a couple of bicyclists traveling the other way and something fell off. I saw it. It was a pedal. So of course I stopped and offered help. Bottom line, put the back seat down, somehow fit both bikes in albeit with the trunk up, and gave them a ride home. Friends I'll ride with soon.