scrapser

For years I have been building my own computers. There are sites where you can get much more bang for the buck building your computer and you also get exactly what you want. One such site is NewEgg. Are there some established websites offering a wide selection of all the best components and frames so enthusiasts can build their own bike? I see tons of online parts sites but nothing similar to what I've seen for computers at NewEgg.

Thanks

urbanknight

Bikes are different from computers. When buying brand new, it's generally less expensive to just buy a complete bike. You can save money by building yourself, but it involves getting one piece at a time from sales and swaps, and not being picky on which parts you use.

paul_858

Depending on the type of bike and quality of components you can definitely end up with a better bike for less $ than buying at a local shop.

like UK said, it'll take some piecing together, generally ebay is a great place for most components. Drivetrain parts for example can be had significantly cheaper on ebay (new) than at any local retailler or most online retaillers.

Had i had a local shop build my Calfee it would easily have cost me 5k... putting it together myself it ran me right around 3600

BlueBrew

the closest thing that i can think of is pedal force.

joejack951

For the bikes I've built, I've ordered parts from at least 3 different websites for each mainly because I was extremely picky about which parts I wanted to use and online bike stores do not have the extensive inventory that the computer places have (though even Newegg doesn't carry EVERYTHING).

A few of the places I've ordered from that have great selections (and prices) include:

www.speedgoat.com
www.universalcycles.com
www.niagaracycle.com

There are many strategies for saving money when buying a bike piece by piece. In addition to those already mentioned, you can sometimes get a very nice deal on parts by buying most of them (including the frame/fork) from the same store. From what I've been told, shops can only discount parts so much when sold individually, but if they are selling a "complete" bike, they are allowed more freedom with what to charge. Many online stores also offer price matching so if one place has more of what you want but not necessarily the best price on that item, a price match can be a win-win for you and the store (you save money, they get a bigger order).

The bikes I've put together have cost a bit more than if I bought something comparable off the shelf but given that I'd be making at least a few changes to the off the shelf bike, the cost difference is basically negligible.

mmerner

I would say there is no online bike store that has all the features of Newegg.

joejack951

One thing I forgot to mention in my post is that the sites that do have the best component selections often do not have the best frame selections. For my LOOK, I got the frame/fork from Competitive Cyclist but that was it (for obvious reasons). I lucked out with my Gunnar as Speedgoat had most of what I needed for the build. The other bikes I've built have used an already owned frame/fork so I didn't have to worry about that part.

scrapser

Clearly the bicycle market is very different from computers. I used it just to convey the general idea. I'm looking to leverage my dollar as much as possible and it seems to me retail bikes are being sold with a fairly high markup. For example, my brother-in-law just picked up a Cannondale Synapse 4 (MSRP $2449) for $1599. He had to drive 75 miles to get it but it was a good deal. If the dealer can sell the bike with that much of a discount and still make a profit then it makes you wonder how much the wholesale cost actually was.

The next question I suppose is how to stack the various components against each other so you have a sort of "hierarchy of quality" to use as a guide. For computers, the analogy would be function, speed, and reliability but for bikes it seems things get pretty gray fairly quick. For myself, I would be thinking strength, weight, and function (depending on the part) along with reliability. I was hoping there were online stores that had this sort of thing sorted out already. This would help eliminate the maze of opinions about what's best when choosing parts.

joejack951

Keep in mind that if the bike shop had been sitting on that particular bike for a while, they might have been willing to let it go for very little more than what they paid for it. It's in their best interest to turn over their inventory so as long as they are making a profit elsewhere, it's not going to hurt to not make much on a sale here or there. It's those types of deals on a new bike that are basically impossible to match building your own though.

For groupsets, if you go on either Shimano, Campagnolo, or SRAM's website, they'll have their heirarchy's laid out for you. How they compare from one brand to the next is up to you. You can compare strictly by price if you want but that's not going to tell the whole story. Weight, feel, and ergonomics should also influenece your decision though some of that depends on what you plan on doing with the bike. Keep in mind that you can mix and match to some extent within brands and a little across brands (though not much these days). There are a lot more crankset and brake options too if you don't mind not having a fully matched groupset.

For everything else, including the frame, you first have to figure out what fits you and what your budget is going to be. Wheels will eat up a big chunk of it and you have a lot of options there (again, you can narrow things down by determining what you want to do with the bike). Stem, saddle, seatpost, and handlebars should all fit first but you can also some style to your bike depending on what you choose. So much of the fun of building your own bike is making it unique so choosing ho-hum components to save some money is missing the point (in my opinion). Tires and bar tape can add some color or you can be lame and just buy black like everyone else

blamire

www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

Surferbruce

I'm pretty sure at www.WrenchScience.com you can configure a build as you like, pretty much. better to just shop around for the best deals on what you want, then build it up yourself in the real (not virtual) world.

fordmanvt

Start with a fitting, that way you have your list of specs (frame, crank arms, stem, bars, saddle).

Then test out some stock bikes to see what gruppo you like and can afford (most will point your towards the middle groups for the best bang for the buck) and whether your terrain allows you to ride a double, compact double, or if you need a triple, also what gear range you like in a cassette.

If a certain retail bike gets you most of what your looking for, consider buying the bike and replacing a couple things. You might even be able to trade parts for what you need at the LBS for little or nothing. Salesmen almost always have a set amount of give, this is where you work it if they don't budge on price.

Goose5

I must admit I am thinking of doing the same thing. I have been monitoring Ebay now for about a month. Just to learn about what goes for how much. When I added everything up I was amazed. I could buy an entry level Caad 9 tiagra equipped. I know I would feel compelled to change out the tiagra and the wheels later. So, why do that? My Cannondale 3.0 is 19 years old and still a very nice ride. But, if the right deal pops up on Ebay I might just do that. My observations of Ebay are it is not that great for deals. Ultegra parts are a pretty good deal most of the time. Frames on the other hand are hard fought for. Right now there are a few special team knockoff frames up. They seem to think a special paint job makes these frames 200 dollars more expensive then what they should be. Before I knew what was going on a Madone 5.9 went for 470. So, deals are possible but I don't know if I would buy used carbon. My rule is know what the new price is for an item and divide by two, and never pay more than that including shipping.

Banzai

People generally build because they're picky (myself included) and not to save money.

It's like a car...you can buy it for $20K, or you can buy all the parts individually and wrench the exact same car together for $40K.

scrapser

Thanks for these tips and any others yet to come. I believe this is the direction I will take. I'm fairly frustrated with the "name brands" of bicycles and how meaningless that's become anymore. I've completely rebuilt a bike twice in my life and used to build and fly ultralight aircraft in my day. I figure I should be able to build a bicycle now.

Banzai

Finding your frame at least on e-bay can help a LOT with the cost issues. Just remember to be appropriately e-bay wary.

zatopek

I've built 8 of my 9 bikes myself. In each case, I started with either a used or new frame from eBay or some small shop advertising, on line, a great deal for clearance purposes. It takes a while to find what I want, in my size, for a price I'll go for (I'm a bit cheap), but it is worth it to me. As an example, I had been hunting a magnesium frame for the last 3 years. Everything I saw in my size cost too much. Last month, found a used Litec frame in my size, 58 cm, for cheap. Built it up and it rides better than any other bike I own: CF, Fe, Ti or Al.
Specing the components can take a while as I usually go with used Ultegra or DA off eBay for gruppo. Although I have bought a couple pair of used wheels, I am a bit wary there and usually buy new from Neuvation. The only extravagance (as I see it) is I have a preference for sweet carbon cranks like Stronglight Fission and Easton EC90 that can take many months of eBaying to get a price I am willing to pay.
The beauty of this process is that I get to do the whole build myself and make the bike exactly as I want it. Also, as many bikes as I own and constantly tinker with, I get to evaluate lots of products. For example, DA cables and housing are a breeze to install and work well. Nokons are a pain to install and need too much tinkering and lubing to keep them quiet. Jagwire is easy to install, works well enough and is pretty inexpensive. Yokozuna is the sweetest performer, costs a bit much and is a total pain to install.
I'm single, almost never eat out, live quite frugally in other respects and have a serious cycle building and cycling addiction that is my predominant hobby, after my 7 dogs.
Build your own bike on the cheap. It's more fun.

Banzai

I thought you were wary...

Nickshu

You also have to consider the price point of the bike. I have been thru this recently trying to decide to buy complete vs build myself for my wife's bike. I have always built my own bikes over the years and feel it is cheaper in the long run b/c you get exactly what you want.

At the $1000-2500 price point it is WAY cheaper to buy a complete bike. Above $2000-2500 is where you get to a point where it may be cheaper to build yourself. At the mid-range price point by building yourself you can get top quality headset, BB, crank, stem, bars....places where complete bike mfgr's cut corners to save cost, replacing these items with cheap crap.

Buy a good frame, then source your components from places like PBK or ChainReactionCycles and you should come in at a reasonable cost.

I ended up buying my wife a Specialized Allez Sport, which was the most cost effective option.

carpediemracing 

Unless you have a lot of time, it'll be more efficient to buy a bike and swap a few parts out. Or get a used bike and do the same. Or a blow-out bike (eBay from a shop for example). Some shops will list bikes as used on eBay when in fact the bike was only built up and then re-boxed. I think my bike was like that. This way they can sell below retail.

I buy computers like I buy bikes (and I buy from Newegg regularly). Not the fastest, lightest, etc. I tend to buy a recert/refurb box (HP seems to be what I buy) and install stuff for me - vid card, GB network card, some RAM. I didn't/don't see a benefit in getting a superfast machine so I get a generation or two old stuff. My fastest machine is a dual core 2.x Ghz (built from pieces). The rest are updated boxes - a few 1.6-1.8 Ghz duals, and I'm still running an older HT machine too.

When buying a bike in pieces and parts, I am the same way. I'll get what I think it good, and skimp on what I don't think I need.

I'll spend high end money on fixed items that I'll probably transfer from bike to bike: stem, bars, post, pedals. For computers it means a good mouse, keyboard (I use an ergo kb), gig switch, huge mouse pad, decent monitor. These are things that work on a lot of different computers.

I'll spend medium money on wear parts: cassettes, chains, seat, tires, cranks, wheels. In computer speak they can be equal to hard drives, optic drives, cables, etc.

I'll spend medium money on frame/forks because I don't want to, and can't, afford more expensive stuff. This would be a motherboard unit (with cpu, vid card, RAM that work with it).

I recently bought a complete bike when the price was good (SRM Record Fulcrum1 SystemSix). I swapped wheels, put my own bar, stem, seat, tires, and I was set. This was sort of like buying a refurb PC and updating/altering what I needed to alter.

For performance in a bike your most important things (after fit and a saddle you like) is the frame/fork, tires, wheels, gearing, and pedals. Then comes drivetrain freshness, bar/stem efficiency.

You'll find that you'll get a lot of the big things at good prices, but the little parts will kill you. Cable housing can run a lot if you get Nokons, etc. I treat myself to stuff like that every now and then, and hang onto them forever.

hope this helps
cdr

Grumpy McTrumpy

I think you can save money if you are building a high end bike. I just completed this for about $4k as pictured. Complete build-up, so I didn't have to discard any parts, and I get to choose precisely what goes on it. The same bike would have been at least a grand more had I purchased it already built, and most likely would have needed a different saddle and possibly a different stem and bars.



HOWEVER, for a middle-of-the-road or low-end bike, I think you get better deals if you just buy a factory built bike.

zatopek

Banzai,
Have you ridden Neuvation wheels?

topflightpro

Another thing to consider in the computer vs. bike comparison is that a lot of times you can buy OEM computer parts that don't come in boxes or with instructions that are significantly cheaper.

There are no OEM bike parts retailers that I know of.

carpediemracing 

There are a few distributors that deal with OEM stuff. A shop won't necessarily advertise the fact, but it's cheaper for them to get plastic baggie wrapped derailleurs and such. Ditto eBay sellers.

cdr

caloso

I'm with Grumpy. I built up my Bianchi with SRAM Red for less than $3K, but it took a lot of patience, a little bit of luck, and that didn't include wheels. The frame is an '08 and I got a great eBay deal from a real world brick and mortar shop.