Touring - Is it a wise choice to build up a touring bike? Detailed inside

So I found a touring frame in my size on Nashbars site for $150(marked down from $220 it says) I was wondering if it would be worth my time and money to build something like this up with my chosen components or would it be money better spend to just buy a touring bike. I have a year until I plan to tour so I could shop around and deal hunt during that time.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks. :thumb:

You'll almost certainly spend more money than buying a complete touring bike like the LHT [which comes with a nicer frame IMO]. The two situations where building from scratch make sense are 1) money is no issue and you are uber picky so you want a very specific spec or 2) you have most of the parts you are going to use already from previous bikes.

You'll almost certainly spend more money than buying a complete touring bike the LHT [which comes with a nicer frame IMO]. The two situations where building from scratch make sense are 1) money is no issue and you are uber picky so you want a very specific spec or 2) you have most of the parts you are going to use already from previous bikes.

This is one thing I was thinking. I thought I might come out slightly cheaper if since I have so much time to deal shop and wait for deals. The idea is hard to believe that it would cost more to build it then to buy it if I have the ability to wait, but I do believe you.

After looking around it seems like the LHT goes for around $900. You don't think its possible to build a decent touring bike for considerable less?

Freud, when you buy a complete bike, they basically just give the frame to you and sell you the components. ;) It's like Henry Ford used to say, "If I could guarantee the repair parts would be bought from me, I could afford to give every person in the US a free car." (Paraphrased somewhat) You pay far more for the parts al carte than the companies ever will. For an example on a larger scale, assemble a price list if you built a car from the ground up using exclusively parts from the Auto Parts store (It IS possible). I think you'll be shocked to see a bare bones subcompact will cost you nearly $100K. Bikes are the same, just different economic scale.

This is one thing I was thinking. I thought I might come out slightly cheaper if since I have so much time to deal shop and wait for deals. The idea is hard to believe that it would cost more to build it then to buy it if I have the ability to wait, but I do believe you.

After looking around it seems like the LHT goes for around $900. You don't think its possible to build a decent touring bike for considerable less?

Let's just assume for a second putting loads of effort into it you were able to buy the parts to hang off a Nashbar touring frame for 25% less than a complete LHT. You'd have to use the cheapest parts you could find which may not work as well as the complete LHT. You'd be riding the Nashbar frame vs. a LHT which has received a lot praise for good reason. You'd have spent lots of your time searching the net and Ebay to get the deals. You'd have no or a limited warranty on most parts.

Are you really saving anything when you add up all those factors compared to walking into a LBS and dropping $900 for a LHT?

If saving money is a priority I'd look for a used complete touring bike [a LHT, 520, REI Randonee] in good condition and buy that. You'd save some money and not have any of the downsides of buying a la carte except the lack of a warranty.

on the other hand, there is one more benefit of building it up yourself.

if you are not a great bike mechanic, building up a bike can offer valuable experience towards emergency repairs out on the road. i built up my bike myself and learned a great deal about how everything works. i feel like i could fix many more potential problems than i could before.

plus, you do end up with a more customized ride just how you like it. while i still haven't tallied up a final cost for my bike, i would estimate that i now have a perfectly geared, glove-like fitting, and rather fetching touring bike for about $1200. to get everything exactly how i want it (without even being super picky), i am willing to toss in an extra $300 if i'm gonna make that bike my home for a few straight months.

For value, the LHT complete bike is very hard to beat. You could build up or buy a touring bike for less than an LHT complete, but it would be very hard to build up a better bike for less.

It seems like Surly (QBP) chose the best price performers across most or all of the components and they must have great buying power compare to you and I.

I started with an LHT complete and a helpful LBS, and they were willing and able to swap anything I did not like to give me a semi-custom LHT.

Where building up a frame makes sense to me is where you are willing to spend more on a bike ($2000 or more) and have very specific ideas about what components you want.

Where building up a frame makes sense to me is where you are willing to spend more on a bike ($2000 or more) and have very specific ideas about what components you want.

Truer words were never spoken. You build (or upgrade;)) a bike because you want something special, not because you want something cheap. I've done this on more bikes than I care to think about. My current stable is worth far more than my wife knows but I could replace each one with a far cheaper complete bike and not really notice that much difference:rolleyes:

For example, this bike started life as a perfectly serviceable Cannondale T800. Below is a list of the changes...and costs.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0181.jpg


Parts Description Cost
Frame Complete bike 900
Headset Red Chris King 120
Front Derailer Stock 0
Rear Derailer Stock 0
Front wheel Phil Wood/Mavic 185
Rear wheel Phil Wood/Mavic 379
Handle bar Ritchey 35
Seatpost Race Face 35
Saddle Brooks B17N 100
Crank Race Face Turbine 230
Bottom Bracket Race Face 0
Pedals Shimano 520 50
Cassette Sram 60
Brakes IRD Cafam 80
Stem Race Face 15
Levers/shifter Shimano 105 100
Rack, rear Tubus Cargo 100
Rack, front Tubus Tara 88
Tape Aztec 20
red bits Purely Custom 55
Pump Topeak 30
Headset spacers stock 0
Computer mount Cateye 20
Bottle cages Zefal 30
Cable/housing 40
2,672.00

Extras for touring
Bags, front Ortlieb 100
Bags, rear Ortlieb 130
Handlebar bag Ortlieb 80

2,982.00

Building bike from the frame up is a lot of fun and as posted above, you do learn a great deal about bikes. You will spend more money for custom build however, no matter how good of shopper you are. (almost all the bike parts in world come though only a couple of wholesalers, QBP being the biggest in USA.)

Average the cost per mile, and the Surly Crosscheck and LHT complete bikes are the best values in the cycling world. There a better deal than any bike in the 70's or 80's even...

Personally, I think you would use your time more wisely by looking for a good used complete bike.
It may take 6 months to find what you are looking for, within your price range, but it will end up being cheaper and easier. Then you will have plenty of time to fix it up and customize it. I recently bought a 1988 Trek 520 on Craigslist. After fixing what was broken or worn out and adding fenders, racks and a Brooks saddle, it came out to about $500. Now I have exactly what I wanted for less than half of a new bike. I also have the added benefit of having a bike that is worth more than I paid for it.
It does seem that cheap used bikes are harder to find today than they were 6 months ago, but that will hopefully change when the weather gets bad, assuming gas prices have stabilized.

....I have a year until I plan to tour so I could shop around and deal hunt during that time.

I won't comment on which is a better way to go, but I will say that the sooner you get a bike together the more time you will have to sort out any issues with it. More time to set it up, work out any bugs, try different things, different handlebars, different racks and bags, different lighting, different pedals. Plus you'll have more time to get some miles on it and see how stuff holds up, what works on the road, what doesn't. If you do decide to go with the web bike and it doesn't work out you might even still have time to swap or sell it off and build up something different.

I won't comment on which is a better way to go, but I will say that the sooner you get a bike together the more time you will have to sort out any issues with it. More time to set it up, work out any bugs, try different things, different handlebars, different racks and bags, different lighting, different pedals. Plus you'll have more time to get some miles on it and see how stuff holds up, what works on the road, what doesn't. If you do decide to go with the web bike and it doesn't work out you might even still have time to swap or sell it off and build up something different.
I guess maybe I'm just not too fussy, but I find any of the standard choices in touring bikes to be fine right out of the box with the exception of gearing in some cases.

Three of us bought inexpensive complete touring bikes (Windsor Touring in our case, but substitute any of a bunch of choices), added inexpensive racks (Blackburn EX-1, and Nashbar lowrider clone on the front) , and inexpensive panniers (Nashbar or Performance Waterproof Panniers or Transit Pro panniers).

Lighting? You don't typically need much on tour. A $6 blinkie along with the LED headlamp we used for lighting in camp sufficed.

Pedals? You probably already know what works for you. Two of us used pedals with SPD on one side and a cage on the other and one of us used double sided SPDs.

Two of us pretty much just bought the stuff and set off across the country. Granted it would be nice to have had more time to acclimate ourselves to the bikes, but in this case time did not allow for two of us. We could tweak and obsess over each and every part and the change in the experience we had on our coast to coast trip would be nil.

For those who enjoy the tweaking and obsessing it may be an end unto itself, but it really isn't a necessity. It just doesn't make all that much difference in how you enjoy your tour. This is not to imply that you don't need to get cleat position, saddle height, and so on just right, but only that you don't really need to fiddle with swapping all kinds of parts.

My choice would be to buy a complete bike and ride it mostly as is. The one place you need to get right is low enough gearing. Everything else is just fine on all of the dedicated touring bikes that I have seen unless you are in need of some fit adjustments due to having non standard body proportions.

I build up my bikes from scratch, using parts from EBay and Craigslist. I know that I save money versus buying new. Of course, as with all things from the Internet, you have to be careful on parts and sellers and shipping, etc. I whole heartedly agree with the sentiment above that it helps you understand your bike.

Another example:

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/images/BikesRichsBike.JPG

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 1980s version $29 at Thrift Store
Adjustable Stem @$22 Ebay
Trekker Handlebars @$24 Ebay
Lowrider Front Rack $20 Ebay
Jaand Extreme Rear Rack $30 Craigslist
Schwalbe Tires $40 (Bought the cheap ones on ebay) Should have splurged for the XRs before leaving.
Seat Post $25 ebay. Should have left the original
Mega Range Gears @$20 ebay
Kickstand $16 ebay
Fenders $32 ebay
Compass Bell $6 ebay
I think that's it.

Total $264.

Ride in the rain joyfully without a care about rust. Box up the bike for travel without worrying about scratches, dents or dings. Sleep like a bear in the tent while the bike is locked to a tree because nobody wants to take the trouble of stealing an old junker.

While it is not for everyone, there are certainly some compelling reasons to consider using an old mountain bike. If not for any other reason, the money saved could actually pay for the entire tour.

I think it's better to build your own bike,IF you know what you want.

Do you ever see used LHTs?

Do you ever see used LHTs?

This is one reason I was a little discouraged. I never see good used touring bikes in my area. My Craigs list is a dead end when it comes to finding deals on good bikes.


Thanks to everyone for the advice so far. I think I will listen to what some of you have said, instead of using the time to deal shop for parts I will use the time to deal shop for a nice complete setup.

Thanks again.:D

Do you ever see used LHTs?

Join the Surly LHT Group (http://groups.google.com/group/SurlyLHT/)...there are a used bikes for sale posted on the group.

It's possible to get good deals on a used bike--- I've owned a lot of them over the years. Sometimes you can find a great deal at a yardsale.

But EBAY isn't much for good deals. Yes, there are a lot of used bikes for sale there and even more used parts. Yes, you can get a bike cheaper than getting a new bike. But used bikes break down much more often than new bikes and fixing them costs money and time. As a guy who works in the bike industry, I can guess about when a bike is going to have major mechanical problems. I like to sell bikes just before the wheels give out or the shifters break...on EBAY, so people can bring them back to my house broken and all pissed off.

Looking a a new LHT at under a $1000-- man, that's really a great deal! All the parts are new, all are completely tested, almost all the top end (the rims aren't great, but still good). Buy a new LHT and figure out the costs per mile and I'd bet there has never been a more economical bike ever sold, new are used.

There is a way to get bikes cheaper, however. It's called living in the bike junkyard. First, collect any bikes/parts you can find, fill your garage with them. Get a good set of bike tools. Spend hours building/fixing bikes out of cheap or free crap. You'll always have a bike for next to nothing. It's a lifestyle choice, however. It takes time and it's not always a great idea for the health of a person's marriage/relatationship. If I had $10 a hour of all of the time I've spent fxing up old bikes......or $10 every time my wife got mad about my bike junk.....

So unless you're addicted to old bike collecting, (and we all know who we are), stick with that shiny new LHT. It's money well spent.

Well I found the right size frame at a LBS but am I going to get screwed on parts if I have them build it. Should I just have them order a complete one?

Well I found the right size frame at a LBS but am I going to get screwed on parts if I have them build it. Should I just have them order a complete one?

If you want to save $$$ and get a good quality parts yes. You'll end up with a great bike at a good price with minimal hassles. You can used the time you saved scouring EBay and Craig's List for cheap parts riding your bike.

I called and they said they would order one...forget the last post. thanks

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0181.jpg





Cycco, I love it whenever you post a pic of that ride. That is sweet :thumb:

I just picked up a 1998 novara randonee off CL for $140. Wheels need truing, needs new brake pads/shoes and could use a new chain and tires. I'll probably put new cables in too. Shimano RSX shifters seem ok given they've seen some use and abuse...I'll keep my eyes out for a deal on some replacements and might consider barcons just to give em a whirl and save some money.

Why did I do it this way? I'm saving a few hundred bucks (2008 randonee at local rei for $790 on sale) but gain some skills along the way and my bike will look like a turd compared to other bikes on boulder bike racks....mine will be the last to be stolen. However, ask me a year from now and I'll probably agree with the senior folk around here that you should just buy a complete bike...I like to prove things for myself.

It took awhile for a good deal on CL to pop up...I hope this one pans out for me. Keep your eyes peeled and you might score too.