To Build or Buy prebuilt??

[chefhow]

So I have been scouring the local f/s postings in CL, eBay and LBS's for over a month (thats how I found this site) for used bikes and came across a used Lightpseed Vela frame where my son lives down in TN. Its only $200 and is the frame, forks and headset. My questions are can I take a road bike and make it a Cyclocross/Hybrid bike? Being as big as I am (6'5" 280) do I need different components than a normal sized bike? Would it be cheaper to buy a Motobecane ($500) or build one using the Lightspeed frame which is $200? Thanks for the help.

[Halthane]

That's a pretty solid bike, but definitely a road race machine. You won't have the clearance for bigger tires typical of a cross/hybrid bike.

Is this going to be your first bike?

[chefhow]

That's a pretty solid bike, but definitely a road race machine. You won't have the clearance for bigger tires typical of a cross/hybrid bike.

Is this going to be your first bike?


First bike in over 10yrs. I have been riding a stationary for about 4 weeks while in rehab and want to keep it going but take it outside rather than continue in the house. If it works out to about the same costs I may go ahead and build it,(help with the motivation having put it together myself rather than just go to a LBS and buy one), otherwise I may just go ahead and pickup a Cyclocross off the net.

[CliftonGK1]

It will be cheaper to buy the complete $500 bike than to build up around a frame, even if you're only paying $200 for it (which is a good deal!)

You don't need to worry about components except for a couple things:
- Wheels: While some people have had good luck with low spoke count, most of us lean toward 32 and 36 spoke wheels with strong rims.
- Seatpost: Again, some people are comfortable putting a carbon post on their bike, and some of us are not. I've heard more stories of cheap alloy posts bending than I have of carbon posts failing. I think it really comes down to don't cheap out on your seatpost.

I'm not too much lighter than you, and I've ridden stock entry level and mid-level components on my bikes for years, without catastrophic failure.
The benefit of building up a bike around a frame/fork is that you can select all the components exactly as you want them. The benefit of the complete bike, if you plan on keeping the frame for a long time, is that you can replace the components one-by-one as you have the money to replace them.

[txvintage]

Second teh no clearance issue.

Another thing to consider, is that you cannot get your component group Derailleurs, crank set, brakes, brifters), wheelset/tires, seat/post, bars and stem, cables, etc for $300. Not even evilBay can cough that up for $300.

If you have a donor bike with components you might pull it off though.

For all teh debate that goes on over the distributer for Motobecane, I have not heard anyone have anything bad to say about the bikes themselves. In factg, the owners/riders seem quite pleased.

Heck, I'd ride one if it showed up in my garage looking for a home.

[CliftonGK1]

For all teh debate that goes on over the distributer for Motobecane, I have not heard anyone have anything bad to say about the bikes themselves. In factg, the owners/riders seem quite pleased.

+1

I've talked to a few riders with new Motobecane bikes and they were happy with them.

[bdinger]

A Litespeed for $200!?!?!? Buy it! Buy it now! Before I do!

In all seriousness, that frame was probably 5 to 10 times that cost new. Buy a Motobecane then move the parts over to that frame. I mean a titanium frame for $200? No-brainer!

[chefhow]

A Litespeed for $200!?!?!? Buy it! Buy it now! Before I do!

In all seriousness, that frame was probably 5 to 10 times that cost new. Buy a Motobecane then move the parts over to that frame. I mean a titanium frame for $200? No-brainer!

So I went ahead and bought the frame and am having it shipped this week. Cant wait to see the beauty. The best part is I got it for $200 SHIPPED to me.

[cohophysh]

Now you have gone and done it! You will have the illness some of us do, buying frames, building them up. I just finished a build and I really enjoyed getting to know how everything works. The only part I had done at the LBS was installing the fork and building the wheels. I didn't want to screw up cutting the fork. You realy do learn alot

[jyossarian]

A Litespeed for $200!?!?!? Buy it! Buy it now! Before I do!

In all seriousness, that frame was probably 5 to 10 times that cost new. Buy a Motobecane then move the parts over to that frame. I mean a titanium frame for $200? No-brainer!
+1 That way, you'll have a spare frame and all the parts you need to build up the Litespeed.

[late]

I suggest getting wheels with CXP33 rims.
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/display/25350/

Don't be too surprised if you wind up swapping the components over
to a different frame next year. Tiagra works well, and is reasonably priced.
Except for the rear derailleur and cassette. I got a 12-34 cassette and
a Mtn bike rear derailleur to handle it. If you haven't been riding it's the sensible thing to do until you get back in shape.