MadKaw

OK, perhaps not the extreme sport I'd most like to do, but I'm going to have to get good at it before I can have a cyclocross bike.

I found an old (mid '80s?) Trek 8000 hardtail which cost me nothing. I know this isn't "right", but it's what I've got for now.
No pedals, but I've got a pair of Shimano platform pedals I can scarf off another bike. The seat is delaminating, I'm thinking WTB Speed Comp. Suggestions? Cheap suggestions?

Amazingly the tubes hold air, but I'm planning on replacing them with Conti Double Fighter 2 tires and tubes. (As always, suggestions are welcome!)

The component set is Shimano Deore. If they clean up well and still work, I don't want to replace them yet.

Right now it has a flat bar with bar ends. I would like a drop bar, but I think that will wait for the money tree to sprout some new leaves.

Between the seat and tires, I'm looking at about $100. Input?

Nightdiver

Are those new prices you're budgeting for? eBay, Craigslist, second hand sport stores, are all a friend to the budget shopper. You can find drop bars for $10, a saddle that isn't highly sought after for about the same, and tires that someone mounted for a couple rides for $20 a pair. If you're not picky about the exact items you put on your bike, you can score very usable budget items. Of course if you do the drop bar you'll have to sort out your shifting and braking components as well, which will jump your budget up a good bit.

MadKaw

Thing is that I need those three parts to put the bike on the road… er, trail. And neither Craigslist nor eBay has what I'm looking for. Other parts, like the drop bar (which is probably next) can wait while I look for a bargain. And it's not so much that I have an exact budget, it's just that the built bike that I would like to get is about $800. So I have a general goal of coming in somewhere around a third of that. That gets me outside while I try to save up for (and maybe find used) the bike I'd like.
My real goal is to put miles on.

NormanF

You could get an entry level Omni Strada from Bikes Direct for around $800. If you're looking for a gravel road bike, I'd say sell your old bike and buy a complete bike that you want. You want to only change things about the bike so its set up the way you want.

Kopsis

The WTB Speed Comp is pretty heavy. If your goal is to actually learn to race Cyclocross, something like the Nashbar XR1 might be a better inexpensive choice. Drop bars will require changing a bunch of stuff and may screw up the bike fit and handling. It can be done, but doing it on a budget without a big bin of spare parts is not recommended. You can race cross just fine on flat bars (just lose the bar-ends), so I'd ditch the notion of adding drops and instead start saving up for a true CX bike down the road.

mack_turtle

is there a bicycle co-op, bike swap meet, or anything like that near you? worth looking into.

MadKaw

Great ideas, but I am stuck because of something I haven't mentioned in this thread. (Sorry 'bout that, I know it is bad form.) I can almost get a great deal on a Diamondback Haanjo Comp. Problem is they're out of stock right now. So I am waiting. And waiting. So my choice comes down to waiting in my LazyBoy with my feet up, or waiting on bike doing something similar to the riding I want to do. Without spending much of the money I need to save for the Haanjo.

Craigslist around here doesn't seem to offer much in the way of deals. Did I mention that I am looking for a 58-59 cm. frame? The swap fest sounds like something worth exploring. But those all seem to be in the spring. Hope to be settled on a new bike by then.
Maybe I don't know what I'm really looking for, but as long as it has two wheels, I'll be happy.

I've got the seat and tires ordered. If I'm lucky that's all I'll have to do to get out. If so, then I'll just be looking for cheap ways to make it closer to a cyclocross.
Not planning on racing. Just want a drop bar gravel grinder.

mack_turtle

while you are waiting for the bike, get off your butt and hike the trails you want to ride. it's a good way to get to know the trails.

MadKaw

Great idea! Thanks. (Although I hate walking… )

GravelMN

Both of the LBSs in my area have bargain saddle bins where you can get slightly to never used saddles for half or less of new price. Most of them are entry level saddles that customers upgraded when they bought a new bike but every once in a while a better saddle shows up. I got a Specialized Toupe for $35 that you couldn't tell wasn't new. Some entry level saddles go for as little as $5 - $10 even for brand name stuff.

Same for tires. I scored a pair of nice trail tires (can't remember the exact brand/model but they were a small block pattern) for my step-son's bike in nearly new condition with the factory flashing and nubs still intact for $40. They had come stock on the bike of a customer who wanted something more aggressive. I doubt they were used for anything other than test rides. Let other riders know what you are looking for, I have often traded or sold stuff I'm not using to someone doing a budget build.

Bike co-ops are great, but I find that saddles and tires are often what is in short supply and the selection is hit-n-miss.