gorillafist

I'm doing a collaborative build with my LBS and we have lined up all the components and I'm wondering what everyone thinks. I'm already over my budget but if anyone has suggestions on the components as far as price vs quality is concerned, I'm open. It will be used for city riding and summer commuter.

Structure
Black Leader 725tr - $359
https://store.citygrounds.com/store/p...r-725TR-Frame/

Hand build black velocity deep v's with All City hubs and dt swiss double butted spokes - $295

Wolf TT carbon fork - $180
https://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=122749

Drive train
All City crankset with Shimano bottom bracket - 140
https://img1.qbp.com/6SPsvm45/prodl/CR2900.jpg

KMC Rust Buster Chain - $12

Contact
Cane creek 40 series headset - $45
https://img1.qbp.com/6SPsvm45/prodl/HD0049.jpg

No name aero carbon seatpost - $52
https://cgi.ebay.com/CARBON-AERO-TT-S...item4aa8252cf9

Richey Stem - $35

Pursuit style handlebars and tape - $63
https://hawleycompany.net/images/items/HDBR1726.jpg

All City track pedals - $20

Tektro R530 front caliper and lever - $40

With the other misc. components and labor I'm looking at about $1435 total before tax.

Fantana

It looks like iMiNUSD might have the 725tr frame cheaper?
https://www.iminusd.bigcartel.com/pro...ader-725tr-v-2 unless v.2 is different than what you're looking at or shipping is really that much

Clif

For 1500 you could get a really really really nice used bike. Actually you could get 2 or 3 for that much. Do you really want an all new bike for so much more.

molimo140

Is there any reason why the 2011 725tr frame is so much more expensive than the 2010?

Also $1435? :O

Das Stig

what is a "collaborative build" with an LBS? it sounds like you are buying parts and they are assembling a bike for you... that's kind of more a standard business transaction.

walt_jabsco

I priced out a 'similar' build with my LBS a few months ago - came out around the same price. When I saw the number we all scratched our heads and collectively acknowledged it was too much for a fixed gear city bike. Ended up grabbing an off-the-peg Swobo for <$550 with the intention of swapping out the parts onto another frame. Bespoke builds just spiral out of control - no benefit with economies of scale for even a decent complete.

My humble advice... Find a primo component-spec'd complete for $700 (find something with a nice wheel set, crank, BB and HS) and transplant it to a new Leader frame and sell off the old frame. You should be able to come in under $900 and be really close to your dream build. Maybe a Raleigh or a Redline? I can't think of any notable completes at the moment, but I know they are out there

Or disregard my opinion and enjoy what sounds like an awesome build

Cheers

Scrodzilla

This question has been answered several times in the Leader thread (where this thread should have been posted).

Also to the OP - paying nearly 300 bucks for a Deep V/All-city wheelset is a ripoff.

gorillafist

A collaborative build meaning I am present during the build, helping out and learning what they have to teach at the same time.

ScottRock

That's like $400 labor. Maybe that's typical but it sure seems excessive for something someone with a bit of time and motivation can do themselves. If you have tools, or are going to buy the tools anyway, i'd really consider doing it yourself.

I also agree with Scrod that $300 for that wheelset is a rip.

Scrodzilla

I totally missed the 400 bucks for labor. Holy crap! Does your LBS build bikes at gunpoint?

monsterkidz

What LBS are you going to? You are getting ripped off. Don't you have any friends that can help you with the build? Hell, give me $100 and I'll build the damn thing for you.

gorillafist

Scrod and Scott thanks for the advice about the wheels. Can you recommend a comparable set online for cheaper?

The quoted labor is only $100. Also I don't know if you can view it but this is the exact estimate they sent me. I was going to get the fork and seatpost on my own so they are not included but now I'm thinking I should try to get all of the parts for the build myself. My original plan was to do the build on my own and learn as I go but I really don't have the tools. Do you think it is worth in the long run to buy tools for myself?
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...Hc&hl=en#gid=0

Scrodzilla

If you really want Deep Vs Velomine has Velocity/Formula wheelsets for $200 and under:

https://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...b6gcg2kqlkp092

Wheelsets from Velomine are typically bombproof.

ScottRock

OK, i see. $100 is much more reasonable. My take on tools is if you're learning how to build & service your bike, you're gonna need the tools eventually. But since labor's a lot cheaper than i thought, that changes things, since iron's expensive. Honestly, $100 for the service described sounds like a pretty good deal, especially considering absolutely no one has anything bad to say about the place. IMHO it's worth it to shop elsewhere for the wheelset but everything else is reasonably priced.

Again i agree with Scrod on velomine. I have a set of their Deep V's laced to Formulas on my bike (which i did build up myself). They needed minimal truing out of the box and have given me absolutely no problems since.

gorillafist

I really appreciate both of your advice. So I'll be saving about $120 so on the wheels but from the others reactions they seem to think that paying over $1000 for a build is too much. What do you think, is $1300 too much to pay for a new fixie? I don't see how else I can get everything the way I want it with the aero styling, carbon fork etc. for any cheaper.

Lilcphoto

co-op/used parts can cut that price down considerably

Scrodzilla

$1300 isn't really "too much" when building a bike from the ground up but it is much less expensive to buy a complete bike, just as buying a meal at a restaurant is cheaper than buying items a la carte. But then again, that's the price you pay when you build something to be exactly how you want it.

I'm just about finished with my Leader 725 build and if I had paid retail for the frame, full carbon fork and all the components on it, I would have spent just over $2000. Effing ridiculous.

Squirrelli

That fork only has 190mm of steerer, is that the right size for your bike?

You could order a TT fork for half off at BikeIsland.

TejanoTrackie 

Well, if I'd bought everything new and retail on my 721tr, it prolly would have cost about $4000. Even so, and despite using existing wheels, it still cost about $850. Fact is, anyone should be pretty pleased if they manage to keep the total cost below $1K w/o compromising on quality.

TejanoTrackie 

Excellent observation! That fork is meant for a pursuit / TT frame with a very short headtube. I have a 49cm Leader 721tr, and my fork steerer has been cut only 1/2" shorter than that fork, so I doubt it would be suitable for anything but the smallest Leader frame sizes.

gorillafist

You know, I thought about that but wasn't sure and forgot to ask. I'll be using the 53cm, I'm not sure of the headtube length at this moment but I can call my LBS tomorrow. Thanks for saving me a possible pain. They have an uncut version for $20 more but now that I'm trying to lower the cost, the fork might be the next thing I reconsider. I've checked out the bikeisland forks previously but was kind of weary about skimping on the fork considering if it fails it could be really bad. Have you any experience with the quality of their forks?

soyboy

i mean, leader's are awesome frames but i'd do this:

https://store.citygrounds.com/store/p...Complete-Bike/

and add the brake and rb021s you want, you could come in under a thousand if you sell the deda track drops

Thirteen.

Here is a set of new velocity deep v wheels for only $170. I've purchased my set from this seller and it runs great. He supposedly lives down the block from Velocity distributor. Despite his incoherent sentence structure he still provides excellent and lightning quick service.

https://cgi.ebay.com/velocity-fixief-...b#ht_500wt_922

gorillafist

Thanks for the suggestion. I've looked at the track pros but they're just a little too flashy for me. Kinda stuck on the 725 now, been looking at it for sooo long. The logo-less clean look is appealing to me. Plus I'm kind of looking forward to actually putting my own bike together.

soyboy

track pro plus a powder coat? still under your original price by hundreds