JRoller

Hi there, I am new to road bikes coming from riding my cheap mountain bike.

I can get a complete set of Shimano 105 5600 for under $500, is it possible for me to complete the bike with another $500 into the budget? If so, what parts would I need besides the obvious (frame/seat/wheels/tires)

This will be a summer project for me, so I am not really looking to save any money but still want to stay around the $1000 mark.

Recommendations for parts would be great too, like frame/wheels/tires suggestions!

Or should I just scrap all of this and just grab the 2011 GTR Apex series II at performance bike for $850 + tax?

WonTian

Building up a bike is really something you do when you already have a lot of spare parts around, other wise it ends up costing much more. Unless you have a very specific desire to have your bike built in a very specific way. But even then it would make more sense to buy a an already built bike and change things.

With that said, to build a bike up you are going to need a few special tools to do certain things, like putting the cassette on, getting the bottom bracket in, fitting the headset, ect or you could have a your LBS handle those things.
As for parts, you're going to need a tube of bike grease, cables and housing, handle bars, steam, headset, seat tube clamp, and seat tube. This is all assuming that you are getting a FULL 105 groupo

MikeyBoyAz

yeah, I was under the impression that the 105 shifters are under $500, but you still need deraillers, wheels, cassette, crank, BB... the list is very long. Perhaps you should look into used bikes? CL is always a good place to start... ( craigslist.org = CL )

abstractform20

that gt is a solid bike. do it as long it fits.

apex shifters, fd, rd, crankset, brakes (?)

aksium race wheels

very solid for 850.

JRoller

The groupo include:

chainset, bb, dual control levers, front/rear derail, cassette, chain, and cables for inner/outer/brakes/gears.

I'll think hard on that GT bike but thought it would be fun to put together the bike over the summer. But not if it will go over budget though.

Elvo

You'd still need bars, stem, bar tape, possibly hoods.

Why not get this:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rvus_al_xi.htm

And you'll have $200 to update the generic parts.

Elvo

Or this:
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...t+Bike+10.aspx

JRoller

I love the looks on that Focus but I am a 54cm guy (5'8") so 58cm is probably too large as the other sizes are sold out. The mercier is also sold out too for all sizes.

I think I am just going to do a little more research and buy a bike instead of build one. The frames in my price range that fall into my budget are not very stylish, especially when compared to the Focus one you linked that look very nice.

RookieRoadie

Yeah, I thought the same thing as you when I first looked into getting a road bike. I soon realised that it was going to be very expensive to get a good frame and a decent set set of wheels, not to mention bars, saddle, pedals etc. For $1000, I'd have thought that you could get yourself a very nice, capable pre-built bike? That way you get all summer to ride it too

cuda2k

Frameset: $200(ish) - (nashbar alum frameset + nashbar fork) well there's nearly half of your additional budget right there.
Wheelset: $200(ish) - ok, now you've got $100 left for headset, saddle, seatpost, bars, stem, tubes, tires, and bar tape.

There's probably better bikes out there for the $1k price tag off the shelf.

2manybikes

You can get a much nicer road bike for $1000 than you can by buying the parts and building one.
Especially if you need to buy some bike specific tools. It is nice to learn buy buying parts and building a bike too. It's up to you. It could possibly cost twice as much to build one.

urbanknight

+1 Get the GT and save the rest to have fun upgrading the bike later.

eippo1

plus you'll have lots of extra credit through performance for upgrades etc since may is double points month.

DrPete 

Building your own, especially at the 105 level, will almost never save you money. It's fun, but don't delude yourself into thinking you're being frugal.

saviersrd

I'm new to road biking as well and I just built from the frame up my first real road bike. (Long story short, I bought a cheap complete one from CL and sold it couple of weeks later) and decided to build one instead.

I've had the frame since 2yrs ago I've been meaning to build it up since but never had a chance to until the last few months. Parts are mix new and slightly used - bought from eBay, Performance, CRC and JensonUSA. Complete bike under $1000.

150 miles on the bike later, I feel that finding the parts and building it up is half the fun of riding it. The feeling of satisfaction after building up your own bike and actually riding, it's fun and there's no other word for it, IMO. And thanks to my friend, he let me borrow his tools.

Btw, I picked up a new set ultegra 6600 brifters 2x10spd for $130, haven't installed it. Still deciding if I like the dt shifters...

Few things -

• I bought a new 6400 crankset 170mm last year. After riding the bike I bought from CL which had 170mm crankset also, I realized it's too short so I bought a 175mm one (39-53t chainring). Much better.
• I previously had 600 8spd shifters, used the friction to make it work for my 9spd cassette. I changed it to the 7700 9spd dt shifters last night.
• The brakeset I bought included the levers but the cables are hanging. I didn't know this 'til I installed it. - rookie mistake So I bought a new set of R600 levers to hide the cables. Waiting for shipment.
• I had to buy 2nd fork, first one my dumbass cut too short.

When it's all said and done, this is the final build.


I brought her to work yesterday and rode 20mile after work. I'm a mtnbiker first, I have strong legs sort of. But after climbing a 600ft elevation (though I climbed it without stopping, I kinda struggled), I could use a larger cassette - 25t maybe..or 28t. Pic taken from camera phone.

cuda2k

saviersrd - good looking build. Picking up deals along the way on eBay and sourcing parts off other bikes and freebies is a good way to take a chunk out of the cost. I did something similar when I built up my Flyte SRS-3 a few years back. Frame was a clearance buy, fork for 40% off on eBay (another close out), etc etc. Sold the frameset a year later and used all the parts on my Fuji.

I think the point of this thread is that it's possible to build a bike for less than a grand if you are patient and a little lucky, but if you're starting with a $500 groupset, it's going to be difficult to get an equivalent bike for another $500.

maverick31210

Not trying to self-promote, lol promise.

OP, this is my recently finished build thread with what I have been told are some good updates. It will give you an idea of what you need to get the whole thing together as well as some idea of the pricing of the components. I have a full parts/price list somewhere in last 2-3 pages. You component choices might be different, but this will give you an idea.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ke-buildthread.

let me know if you have any questions as far as getting it put together or whatever else.

good luck!


also, i used CL for a few things: crankset, controls, and frame. everything else was purchased new online. did not use ebay once. there are some great deals on there on the many sites that sell accessories/equipment for bikes. you just have to be on top of it and search all over for what you need. lol it really helps if you have a smartphone or pc at work....almost every single part of my build was ordered online from my smartphone during my lunch hour lol.

Jay-W

Probably better for you to grab the pre-built.

However this is what I built recently with all new parts. I wanted to see how much bike I could get for $1000 Aust. to use as a daily driver/commuter/trainer.

2010 Specialized Allez frame.
2011 Campagnolo Veloce.
2011 Fulcrum 7s.
3T Ergonova Alloy Bars and stem.
Controltech Alloy seatpost.
Look Keo pedals.

The only thing I had owned and used previously was my Toupe saddle and a pair of Ultremos.