Originally Posted by
HillRider
This thread isn't just about cost. The OP doesn't have the knowledge of either mechanics or components needed to even begin a project like this.
The OP didn't say whether they had any mechanical ability. They may or may not; they did say that they don't have knowledge of bike mechanics though. The latter can be easily overcome. I built my first bike with relatively little bike mechanic experience and only made one component mistake (and a slightly obscure one at that not realizing that a 52/42/30 crank wouldn't work with a front derailler designed for a 52/39/30 crank). I did research every component before buying anything to understand what parts were compatible and asked questions when necessary. Most of the stuff is quite simple, just match up diameters/mounting features and you are good to go.
However, if the OP gets overwhelmed assembling IKEA items, building a bike probably isn't a good idea. Building it using used parts is definitely not a good idea if the same caveat applies.