Newb wants to build a Pake!
 

Hello all, I just signed up and introduced myself in the introduction area.

As I mentioned in my intro, I am looking to build a bike. I was given a gift card for Amazon ($300.00) so I was initially looking to purchase a cheap packaged bike but after doing some research on this site, I wasn't particularly thrilled with the options available.

I was looking at a Nashbar or a SE Draft but there were things about both of those bikes that I didn't love and I would like to be able to grow into my bike and upgrade down the road as I learn more.

The purpose of this bike will be for leisure and some commuting. I live in a busy city so I will need to have a front brake. I would also like to have a flip flop hub so I can get used to riding single speed with a freewheel and as I get used to it, switch to fixed gear.

So far the parts I have picked out and priced out are as follows:
-Pake Track frame with 1 1/8 headtube. Frame size is 59 (I'm 6'2" but read the geometry of the track is long so the lower end of the size spectrum is ideal.)
($175.00)
-Pake Track fork. 1 1/8 threadless.
($69.00)

From here, all of the other options are confusing me. Like I mentioned, I have $300.00 to spend on Amazon and I was hoping to be able to get the bike together for another $50.00 spent locally.

Does this seem like a good start? Does it seem like I will be able to reach my goals for ~$350.00?

Sorry for the long winded post, I just figured I would be best to be explicit with what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

At that budget, you're probably better off buying a complete bike.

You'd be hard pressed to find wheels, tires, tubes, cog, lockring, freewheel, seatpost, saddle, bottom bracket, crankarms, chainring, chain, handlebars, brake, lever, stem, headset, bars, grips/tape for ~$100

Agreed.

Thanks for the quick replies.

I guess the better question is how much extra do you think I would have put in to be able to get it all together.

I actually didn't have an idea of how much I would have to spend. I am more flexible budget wise, just trying to get things figured out.

I thought I would be better off buying a good frame and basic decent parts to start. Is that not a good idea?

To give you a rock solid example and help put it in perspective, I recently built up this Pake to sell in my shop:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...akebuild-3.jpg

Built up as it is, the frameset and parts cost over $550 - at wholesale.

If you can spend more (and are willing) you can use the voucher to purchase an All City complete for +/- 750 @ Amazon. The other options are all outside of Amazon unfortunately.

I bought a frame for $200 last summer and the bike came to just over $1000 built up, just so you have some frame of reference. The pake is a well-respected frame and you probably don't want to put bottom of the barrel components on it. The piece of advice that inevitably comes up in this situation is the mercier KILO TT. You can get it complete for $350 with good components, from Bikes Direct.

If you would like to spend the voucher then the All City is your best option, it's a very nice frame tbh. You can choose between a Big Block - street use oriented with track geometry or a Nature Boy wich has a CX geometry.

http://allcitycycles.com/images/bikes/BK47431.jpg

http://allcitycycles.com/images/bikes/BK4733.jpg

Thanks for all of the help guys.

I have looked at the Kilo TT and thought it was a nice bike, however, having this gift card to Amazon is making me look there first and Mercier isn't sold on Amazon.

Scrodzilla, that bike looks fantastic and thanks for giving me and idea of the cost at wholesale.

I am also not opposed to buying used components where I can.

As for the extra $60.00 to spend on Amazon, where would that be best spent?

Those all city bikes do look nice as well. I will look in to them. Thanks.

Tools

no prob, here are the links:
http://www.amazon.com/All-City-Natur...4694043&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/All-City-Block...4694094&sr=1-2

15mm wrench, chain whip, lockring wrench?

Set of allen wrenches

I have a good set of those.

I think I am going to pull the trigger on that frame and fork. Any other comments on this idea?

Should I look into purchasing the crankset, cog, lockset, etc new and then for wheels, tires, stem, headset, etc. used?

What parts are most critical for buying new?

Never buy used tires.

Not necessarily always true. A lot of shops have a bunch of barely used tires hanging around.

Hi ChrisDR - welcome to the SS/FG forum!

My thoughts - Do you have a bike you can ride now to hold you over, geared or not? If so, I'd say take your time and build up the bike you want. Do ALOT of research, read through the threads by using the search function, ask ALOT of questions, and learn as much as you can. Take your time with the build. Building a bike yourself, the way that you want it, can be very rewarding and satisfying. Go over your budget to get the stuff you want, not just the stuff you can get a good deal on (if both apply then that is just a bonus :)) Again, take your time at it, no rush.

If you don't have a bike to ride now, then buy something complete inside your budget - based around a good frame. Ride it now and learn all the stuff above. Upgrade parts piece by piece to get them the way you like it. Before you know it, that complete bike has turned into YOUR build. It's alot of fun, really. Have at it!

Thank you for the help and the welcome, I really appreciate it.

I do have a mountain bike that I can ride for now, but with the weather being so nice out, I would like to get this build done reasonably soon.

So, I have been looking at wheelsets, and I realized that I had forgot to mention that I am 6'2" and weigh ~240lbs. Needless to say, I am not looking for light weight parts, more along the lines of sturdy parts that aren't going to break under my weight. Could someone point me in the right direction to look for parts that would fit these needs?

Thank you to everyone for the help so far, this is really helping me out!

velomine's wheel prices are hard to beat; i can't imagine than any of their "normal" 32h wheelsets wouldn't fit the bill. on the cheap, sun rims to formula hubs: http://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...nog4b4a6liftb6

and deep v's to formula hubs: http://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...nog4b4a6liftb6

who's got the wabi wheels? sturdy?

That is a sweet bike for an even sweeter price.

I don't even have to ride it to know it rides well.

Are these a good deal?
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/2947257543.html

I read mention of the quality of Weinmann wheels not being great but being a good value.

I think I read somewhere that the Weinmanns have origin8 hubs. Is this a good alternative to formula hubs?

Welcome! You can write complete sentences and have actually done research before posting! We hope you stay awhile! :D

+1

For what it's worth, I love my Topeak Alien II multitool to death: http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Alien-2.../dp/B000FIE4AE

I have used pretty much every tool in the set, including more specialized tools like the chain tool and the spoke wrench, and more common ones, like all the allen keys.

Dirt cheap too, considering the amount of tools it comes with. Absolutely one of the best bangs for the buck for basic bike maintenance.

Origin8 hubs are just rebranded Formula hubs. Decent wheels for the price, you save on shipping, and it comes with the cog/lockring, and tires, which will also save you money. I'd say go for it, you can always upgrade them later.