Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.BigBlueToe
02-28-11, 05:20 PM
Yeah. I'm building another bike. The best part is, I told my wife and she didn't question my judgement. She was even supportive. She's the best!
I've been toying with the idea of doing a summer tour on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail. Of course, that means deciding on what bike and rig to do it on. I think it has to be a mountain bike, but should it be rigid, hardtail, dual suspension? V-brakes, mechanical discs, or hydraulic? Should it be 26" wheels or a 29er? Should I carry my stuff with panniers on racks, or pull my Bob trailer?
My choice (as of this month....) is a 29er with mechanical disc brakes, a suspension fork but rigid rear, racks and panniers. I was checking a forum about 29ers and heard that Performance had a frame on sale for $99. I checked into it. They did, in my size (23") and 21". I read a bunch of reviews on it and everyone said they loved it.
I love building up bikes so I did it. I entered my credit card number and bought the thing! It came Saturday and it's very pretty and very light.
The reasons I like to build bikes up from a frame are:
I can pick and choose the components and get exactly what I want - be a little extravagent here, save a little there, etc. I can choose parts for the type of riding I intend to do.
I get to put the thing together myself, which is fun. It also makes me more confident when I have to work on it, knowing I installed everything myself.
The biggest reason is that I don't have to take the whole cost out of the family budget at once. I can spend what I can afford this month, some more next month, etc., until it's finished. It doesn't seem so extravagent that way.
The bad thing about doing it this way is that I inevitably end up spending much more in the long run than if I'd just bought a whole bike in the first place. But I get exactly the bike I want, so it's worth it to me.
With the money from this month that I'm "allowed" to spend I bought the frame, a fork, hubs, and brakes.
I have no pictures yet, but I know it doesn't exist without pictures so I'll try and get some up soon.
I've been toying with the idea of doing a summer tour on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail. Of course, that means deciding on what bike and rig to do it on. I think it has to be a mountain bike, but should it be rigid, hardtail, dual suspension? V-brakes, mechanical discs, or hydraulic? Should it be 26" wheels or a 29er? Should I carry my stuff with panniers on racks, or pull my Bob trailer?
My choice (as of this month....) is a 29er with mechanical disc brakes, a suspension fork but rigid rear, racks and panniers. I was checking a forum about 29ers and heard that Performance had a frame on sale for $99. I checked into it. They did, in my size (23") and 21". I read a bunch of reviews on it and everyone said they loved it.
I love building up bikes so I did it. I entered my credit card number and bought the thing! It came Saturday and it's very pretty and very light.
The reasons I like to build bikes up from a frame are:
I can pick and choose the components and get exactly what I want - be a little extravagent here, save a little there, etc. I can choose parts for the type of riding I intend to do.
I get to put the thing together myself, which is fun. It also makes me more confident when I have to work on it, knowing I installed everything myself.
The biggest reason is that I don't have to take the whole cost out of the family budget at once. I can spend what I can afford this month, some more next month, etc., until it's finished. It doesn't seem so extravagent that way.
The bad thing about doing it this way is that I inevitably end up spending much more in the long run than if I'd just bought a whole bike in the first place. But I get exactly the bike I want, so it's worth it to me.
With the money from this month that I'm "allowed" to spend I bought the frame, a fork, hubs, and brakes.
I have no pictures yet, but I know it doesn't exist without pictures so I'll try and get some up soon.