Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - price to build a bike?

If I order $1300 worth of components for a complete build of a frame (I already have the frame) at my local bike shop, how much should I expect to pay for labor for the build? Or should they comp the labor?

If you order $1300,- of stuff for your bike at least I'd expect them to build it for you. That's wat we'd do.

if you're getting a complete they should definitly comp the labor. even with $1300 they should comp you.

Id say somewhere in the range of $25,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. 99 give or take a few cents

I can't wait till you crash that thing.

I can't wait till you crash that thing.

word.. i crashed my fuji conversion this morning and i think the fork is a little tweaked.. sigh.. IMHO, I'd never ride an expensive frame in the city

... I'm curious why at least two posters think that the labor should be comp'd.

From my perspective I'd say you should have got a deal on the parts rather than pull money out of the hands of your mechanics.

... I'm curious why at least two posters think that the labor should be comp'd.

From my perspective I'd say you should have got a deal on the parts rather than pull money out of the hands of your mechanics.Arent most mechanics getting paid by the
hour

Arent most mechanics getting paid by the
hour

where do you think that money comes from? in most mature shops in the industry (ones with decent customer return rate) the money that keeps the store solvent is the shop. that and sub $300 bike sales.

where do you think that money comes from? in most mature shops in the industry (ones with decent customer return rate) the money that keeps the store solvent is the shop. that and sub $300 bike sales.

money is money to most LBSes. Chances are they're making quite a bit on the $1300 of parts they just order and transfer to him too unless he bargained for them.

However most shops are greedy and probably will try to charge some absurd amount for the labor as well as overcharging for **** they just write down on an order form.

Go in with a list of parts and an idea of what you can get them for elsewhere. Then discuss the price of the whole package WITH installation. Be prepared to walk out many LBSes are like the slimiest used car dealerships when it comes to trying to wring every last cent out of you.

i'd build it for ya for like 50$ and a 12pack of wild cherry pepsi :)

seriously. do it yourself. you are at the forefront of the information age. You can find guidelines on this internet on how to put a VW together in terms a ****** can understand. It's no different than bikes. Think about it. You pay x amount for labor plus 1300 in parts. You buy those same parts online and learn to put them on yourself for = or < 1300. PLUS you can rebuild when you want to upgrade OR just know how to maintain it yourself. Geez. people who can not be bothered to learn how to put a bike together shouldnt ride one imo. ( i know it's harsh so shut up)

money is money to most LBSes. Chances are they're making quite a bit on the $1300 of parts they just order and transfer to him too unless he bargained for them.

However most shops are greedy and probably will try to charge some absurd amount for the labor as well as overcharging for **** they just write down on an order form.

Go in with a list of parts and an idea of what you can get them for elsewhere. Then discuss the price of the whole package WITH installation. Be prepared to walk out many LBSes are like the slimiest used car dealerships when it comes to trying to wring every last cent out of you.


Life is greedy get over it.

sure... the OP should get the best price he can for what he wants to create. But treating ANY business you walk into like they are sleaze ruins a whole lot of the universe. and its a sure fire way to piss people off.

in short... your attitude sucks major pavement.

seriously. do it yourself. you are at the forefront of the information age. You can find guidelines on this internet on how to put a VW together in terms a ****** can understand. It's no different than bikes. Think about it. You pay x amount for labor plus 1300 in parts. You buy those same parts online and learn to put them on yourself for = or < 1300. PLUS you can rebuild when you want to upgrade OR just know how to maintain it yourself. Geez. people who can not be bothered to learn how to put a bike together shouldnt ride one imo. ( i know it's harsh so shut up)

I totally agree with you, Time Bandit. I'd love to build the bike myself. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary tools or space in my small apartment plus no bike stand. I don't have experience with major bike work but I think I could do it. One option I'm considering (especially after this bull****) is using Broadway Bicycles which is a coop type of place were I can rent space to work including basic tools on for $9/hour, specialty tools are $36/hour (prorated by 5-minute increments) and assistance from a mechanic for $24/hr.

Regarding the local bike shop. I didn't ask for or get a deal on the parts. The gave me their retail price for everything, added it all up, and then asked for $50 for the build. $50 isn't much considering I'm spending close to $1300 but that's exactly the point. I was insulted. I could get all the parts for anywhere from 10-40% less online! Probably save $300. I was trying to keep in local. Seems like they could comp me the $50 charge either by waiving the labor or discounting the parts (Isn't it really the same thing?!)

The kicker was when I asked about a specific nitto stem they didn't have in stock. The dude at the shop went to the computer and pulled the part up on Ben Cycle's website. Ben was selling it for $59 and the guy turns to me and says he can get it for me for $100. WTF?!



I can't wait till you crash that thing.


I'll be sure to drink a beer and ride another mile when you crash, moe sizlack

I totally agree with you, Time Bandit. I'd love to build the bike myself. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary tools or space in my small apartment plus no bike stand. I don't have experience with major bike work but I think I could do it. One option I'm considering (especially after this bull****) is using Broadway Bicycles which is a coop type of place were I can rent space to work including basic tools on for $9/hour, specialty tools are $36/hour (prorated by 5-minute increments) and assistance from a mechanic for $24/hr.

Regarding the local bike shop. I didn't ask for or get a deal on the parts. The gave me their retail price for everything, added it all up, and then asked for $50 for the build. $50 isn't much considering I'm spending close to $1300 but that's exactly the point. I was insulted. I could get all the parts for anywhere from 10-40% less online! Probably save $300. I was trying to keep in local. Seems like they could comp me the $50 charge either by waiving the labor or discounting the parts (Isn't it really the same thing?!)

The kicker was when I asked about a specific nitto stem they didn't have in stock. The dude at the shop went to the computer and pulled the part up on Ben Cycle's website. Ben was selling it for $59 and the guy turns to me and says he can get it for me for $100. WTF?!

I'll be sure to drink a beer and ride another mile when you crash, moe sizlack

whoa! I just noticed you are in boston.. What bike shop is this?? I can't believe they looked it up on bens they quoted you the diff..

//lives in brookline

a frame-up build for $50 is actually a pretty good deal.
considering that shop rates can be around $75/hr and a full build, done properly can take a couple hours.

Now if you had saved that $300 by buying online and brought all those parts into your LBS to have them installed you might even get charged a surcharge for labor since you didn't buy thought the shop.

what store?

let me guess... international?

Just build the bike yourself. You can find all of the information online and probably all on BF. Or go to the Park website and search each part and it will tell you exactly how to put all the pieces together one by one, their website is top notch. As far as buying tools, the tools you need to build a fixed gear are minimal, you don't need many specialty tools and everything else can be purchased at a hardware store. I keep stuff local now but when I was getting started I bought everything online and don't really feel bad about it, the bike shops tried to screw me on labor and parts. Save 300 on parts and invest 50 of that in tools and you will have everything you need. To put the bike together I think the only specialty tools you need a BB tool and a chain tool which you can get for under 20 dollars, everything else is hex keys and a large cresent wrench.

What's the Park website?

Scratch that, I figured it out, Park Tools...

unless you need to deal with the headset... Broadway might be the best option if you need to do things like that. I kinda wonder if any of the people who were working there when I last went in are still around (my ex worked there for a little while and a guy I rode with was there for years). I did see a clip from there on PBS the other day ("Arthur")

This is a complete build - all I have is a frame and a fork. I'll have to use Broadway. I'm going to go for it.

This is a complete build - all I have is a frame and a fork. I'll have to use Broadway. I'm going to go for it.

I've wanted to use broadway, but I instead just bought the tools as I needed them.. If I were you I'd try to get as much done before bringing it over. You can do a heck of a lot with standard tools.

Why are you asking us when you could be asking the shop?

Regarding the local bike shop. I didn't ask for or get a deal on the parts. The gave me their retail price for everything, added it all up, and then asked for $50 for the build. $50 isn't much considering I'm spending close to $1300 but that's exactly the point. I was insulted. I could get all the parts for anywhere from 10-40% less online! Probably save $300. I was trying to keep in local. Seems like they could comp me the $50 charge either by waiving the labor or discounting the parts (Isn't it really the same thing?!)

The kicker was when I asked about a specific nitto stem they didn't have in stock. The dude at the shop went to the computer and pulled the part up on Ben Cycle's website. Ben was selling it for $59 and the guy turns to me and says he can get it for me for $100. WTF?!



Read the thread...I did ask the shop. I didn't like what the said and I was wondering if I was being unreasonable...

Between 125 and 160$.

i'm going to have to agree with the folks who think the lbs should comp you.
if you're purchasing 1300 dollars in parts from ONE INDIVIDUAL LBS, then they should be willing to assemble your bike for you. if you are bringing in 1300 dollars worth of parts from this guy and that guy and this website and that, then no, charge away.
business in the biking industry is largely based on repeat business.
just my opinion.
certainly they way it was done at the bikeshop i grew up working in.

the folks at broadway are good people. they have every tool imaginable, and they can help a bit during assembly without charging. they charge $25 to teach you how to use things like a headset press if you've never used one before.

best to invest in someone to help you. it's possible to make some expensive mistakes like stripping your bb shell, ovalizing your headtube or cutting your fork too short.

if a shop doesn't like you chances are they won't comp stuff.

they're doing the work, you should expect to pay them what they charge. most shops have a labor chart, and i'd expect anything between 50 and 200 dollars to build a complete bike, spec'd out and custom.

that said, "no one pays retail anymore" and of all the different kind of shops, i think bike people are some of the nicest and most laid back of workers. they may not do stuff for you for free, but the chances they'll cut you a break after you drop that kind of coin are pretty high most places. you could probably get by with spending less than $50 on tools provided you have a wrench set and some other odd tools around... you'll need a headset press and any splined tools for the bb but other than that most stuff goes on with allen wrenches, box wrenches, and grease.

whoa! I just noticed you are in boston.. What bike shop is this?? I can't believe they looked it up on bens they quoted you the diff..

//lives in brookline

Same kind of thing happened to me at Cambridge Bicycle near Central Square. I was looking for a little metal stand to hold my bike upright, like they use on the showroom floor. The girl looked it up in the catalog, QBP I think, and I saw the price was $21.

"It would be forty dollars," she said. "Would you like me to order it?"

I've been in to Broadway Bicycle once, and everyone was super nice. I ended up buying a new bike elsewhere so I can't actually comment on the service experience, but they definitely have agood attitude and everything.

The bike coop is a great idea, better than just building the bike yourself. I think I must have ****ed up 8 out of 10 of my first bike repairs, just using my Haynes manual and the park tools website. I didn't do any major damage to anything but it really is the hard way to learn.

Same kind of thing happened to me at Cambridge Bicycle near Central Square. I was looking for a little metal stand to hold my bike upright, like they use on the showroom floor. The girl looked it up in the catalog, QBP I think, and I saw the price was $21.

"It would be forty dollars," she said. "Would you like me to order it?"

I've been in to Broadway Bicycle once, and everyone was super nice. I ended up buying a new bike elsewhere so I can't actually comment on the service experience, but they definitely have agood attitude and everything.

OP never did tell us where this went down for him..

What is "OP"? Opening post?

I don't want to say which bike shop. Over all they seemed like cool people. As I said, I don't feel like $50 for the build is a ripoff by any means but if I'm buying $1300 at retail with no discount maybe they could toss in the build. Frankly, it was the 'look it up at Ben's and double the price' move that really put me over the top and that may have just been one guy's fault. If they wouldn't have been so wishy washy about giving me prices and telling me if and when they could get parts I probably would have done it. I went into the store 3 times and could never get anyone who was proactive. Seems like if a dude walks in and wants to drop $1300 on a bike someone might want to quit comparing tattoos and pay attention.

Whatever the case, I've decided to build it myself at Broadway Bicycles with the help of the folks there when I need it. I'm sure it will be much more satisfying this way. Several things are on backorder at Ben's so I'll be waiting a few weeks unless I find them elsewhere. Hopefully you'll be seeing a picture of the build soon.

What is "OP"? Opening post?

I don't want to say which bike shop. Over all they seemed like cool people. As I said, I don't feel like $50 for the build is a ripoff by any means but if I'm buying $1300 at retail with no discount maybe they could toss in the build. Frankly, it was the 'look it up at Ben's and double the price' move that really put me over the top and that may have just been one guy's fault. If they wouldn't have been so wishy washy about giving me prices and telling me if and when they could get parts I probably would have done it. I went into the store 3 times and could never get anyone who was proactive. Seems like if a dude walks in and wants to drop $1300 on a bike someone might want to quit comparing tattoos and pay attention.

Whatever the case, I've decided to build it myself at Broadway Bicycles with the help of the folks there when I need it. I'm sure it will be much more satisfying this way. Several things are on backorder at Ben's so I'll be waiting a few weeks unless I find them elsewhere. Hopefully you'll be seeing a picture of the build soon.

OP = original poster

I'd be interested in which shop you went to as well as I'm also in the area.

I would save my $50 and spend $80 on this:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600099&subcategory=60001232&brand=&sku=21685&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Kits

Pretty much a complete set of tools to allow you to build the bike and you will have them in the future. The only thing you won't be able to do is press on the head cups and install the fork race. You should be able to get the LBS to throw in that for free. You may need to borrow a hacksaw to cut the steerer, otherwise you will be good to go.

The only thing you won't be able to do is press on the head cups and install the fork race.

Or install the star nut. I use a seatpost with a ID just bigger than the steerer to install fork races. It works pretty well, I have one for 1" and one for 1 1/8".

I built up my bike at a local co-op, and while yours sounds more expensive than the ones here in LA, it's a great way to get access to the right tools, and learn how to do stuff yourself. That way you're more comfortable making at least basic adjustments yourself.

The mechanic rates sound a little expensive, so you might consider seeing if you can find a friend who's more experienced who could help you do most of it.

Or install the star nut. I use a seatpost with a ID just bigger than the steerer to install fork races. It works pretty well, I have one for 1" and one for 1 1/8".

OK here is one for $10

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600099&subcategory=60001229&brand=&sku=10531&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Headset