tomk153

hi, my boyfriend's bike got stolen a few months ago. he was really upset about it. so i decided to get him a steamroller for his birthday. he's really into bikes, and i know he would appreciate some different components rather than what the bike comes with stock. so after the price of the built bike, i have an extra $500 to spend on some good parts. i really don't know much about bikes, but i want to get him something he's really going to fall in love with. what parts do you think i should get? i was just going to ask the LBS to swap out the parts and give me a final price for the bike + new parts.

Jabba Degrassi

Probably the first thing to ask is... fit? The problem with surprising someone with a bike is that they don't get to find out if the bike fits them. If you have a ballpark idea of what size bike he wants but aren't sure about the fine-tuning, I would recommend just getting him the stock bike in an appropriate size, and let him pick and choose his own upgrades.

In general though, I would just recommend letting him in on the whole deal so he ends up with a bike that fits the first time.

iamtim

Best. Significant. Other. Evar.

bklein

Don't install components on a wrong size frame.
I will be showing your post to my wife for insiration. In fact I may read it to her while she sleeps for a week in hopes that it sinks in.

JayNev

linking gf to this thread brb

hockdub

probably the best way to approach it. let him pick out the components he wants, that way he truly gets what he wants. you can surprise him equally with the idea of building his own bike, just the same as physically giving him the actual bike.

i think i would be more excited if my girlfriend gave me the idea to build my own bike so i could make it my own.

bionnaki

from the steamroller complete, you'll want to upgrade the saddle and handlebars first and foremost because what comes stock isnt so great. everything else is more personal and due to fit. the crankset is decent and the wheelset is ok, but you should wait to upgrade until those are beat, honestly.

buy him a damn good lock as well.

ornmnt

+1

Judge_Posner

seatpost, saddle, stem, bars -- all could be easily upgraded. but saddle and bars are very personal so its hard to guess what's going to work best for him.

str8flexed

Do you have a picture of your b/f's old bike? If so, post it, and maybe one of us has the same frame and we can eye-ball it and know what size it is.