Hello,

I am hoping to get a Soma San Marcos frame (with threaded fork) soon. Lugged steel. Tange Prestige or Infinity or something. Designed by Rivendell.

But I don't know what would be good yet affordable components and wheels to put on it.
I want to keep it at or under 1800$ if possible for the completed bike.
Frame and threaded fork is ~900$ US dollars.

Any ideas for components?
I would use:
Brifters on the drop bar
Side pull brakes
Triple crank 30-39-50
8 speed in back (or 9)
700c wheels (using 25-32mm width tires)
No idea what bb or headset to use.

I intend to use it for all my riding - commutes and recreational drop bar road riding, though I am not a racer.
Thanks for any ideas.
I know this isn't about frames directly, but I figure you all will know what oges good on frames.

You can save a lot of money and (in my opinion hassle) if you opt for bar end shifters over brifters.

Naw, do downtube shifters.

Velo Orange has reasonably priced components and wheels and they are silver, not black.

Shimano 5700 105 group = $600
Shimano R500 wheelset = $180
Vittoria rando 32's = $75
Quill stem/seatpost/drop bars = $100
Cable/housing set = $30

That's about a grand right there, and (stem/seatpost/bars aside) it's all new and bombproof.

Why don't you consider buying a complete bike from bikesdirect or a last-year's model from the LBS and swap all the parts over andthen sell the extra frame? That way you get a full set of components that you know are designed to work together.

Also, 8 speed is only found on the least expensive road bikes now. 9 speed was the standard, but even that is not currently found in better quality parts... only on ~$1000 or less bikes, usually.

Be aware of some possible unanticipated expense:

• Install headset & crown race
• Prep (mill) headtube & fork crown
• Cut threaded steerer tube
• Chase BB shell (+ face if external BB is used)
• Align RD hanger

Riv offers outsourced (Florida builder) Synergy/Tiagra wheelsets for $250. OC rear rim, 32h. Ideal for 25-32mm. It's one of their "budget" wheelsets.

San Marcos needs long-reach (47-57mm) brakes. If you purchase a groupset, the included (39-49mm) brakes won't fit.

Without some on-hand components, your budget sounds overly optimistic. Even Riv has stated to expect $2500 at the conservative/budget end; their specs are usually for "silver" shifters, not STI. Kalloy seatpost, Kalloy/Origin8 stem, Tektro levers & calipers, Tange/Ritchey headset, and similar choices will trim initial outlay. Also, some eBay downtube shifters, Riv "silver" shifters or current Shimano r400 8sp levers are the most affordable choices. Or strip the components off a BD bike and resell the frame, as mentioned above.

If you want a new steel frame w/relaxed geometry that accepts wider tires, you might consider a Soma ES, Salsa Casseroll or VO Rando. These would save you about $400...toward better components + STI, if you wish.

Thanks for the info, everyone. I was thinking that bar ends would save alot of money.
I may wind up having to go that route. It will be nice to try something new, and I am sure it will save me alot of dough.
But aren't they friction shifting only? I would have to find friction capable derailers, right?

Dude, if you want to save a lot of dough, do what LarDasse suggested - buy a complete bike and sell the frameset. That'll put you roughly what you get for the frameset in front.

I'd make it a second-hand bike; I prefer a few scratches to low-end kit.

Building a bike from parts isn't the go for a budget build at all, unless you already have most of the bits.

8 speed? I think vintage 5, 6, 7 or modern 9 makes more sense.

Agree with KIMMO, I've also done the cannibalizing trick successfully; find a donor bike @ BD, eBay or CL, strip it for the components and re-sell the frameset. Obviously, you need to know all your specs cold, and remember size will often dictate cable length, crank length, chain length...you get the idea. If I didn't know how to do the donor bike thing, I might approach a LBS about making me a package deal for gruppo/wheels, see what they could put together for my budget. I suspect they have lots of parts in inventory they'd like to move. I think my local LBS would do back flips trying to unload stuff in the back room.

Remember to visit the ATM machine first

The rear Shimano 8 speed bar end shifter that I have can be run in the friction or index mode by turning a knob.
The front shifter is friction only.
You derailleurs will work fine. The indexing is in the shifters, not the derailleurs.