Do you have a budget?

I, like many others here, have done similar dream bike projects. I completed mine (below). It helps to have a spreadsheet with actual prices (including shipping). You should count on paying the prices you see advertised. Make no assumptions for killer ebay or craigslist finds (such deals are bonuses!). I forget what spokes cost, but assume maybe $1/spoke. Don't forget labor $ for installing or wheelbuilding that you can't do yourself. You can only assume that you will buy everything new. If you find it used for less that's a bonus, but you cannot assume that for the sake of budgeting.

ADD 20% for MISC. And I really mean take the running grand total and multiply it by 1.20. THAT will be your budget.

Now, take that number and see what else you can get for that amount.

Now, ask yourself, "Is my final bike gonna be nicer than _________?"

I say this because such projects really, really benefit from planning. A great many of these dream projects never make it off the ground. Though, I've seen some that were well-financed actually come to fruition, only to be expensive, well-planned, well-executed mediocre "meh" bikes.



I have since changed the cranks to Omniums, trimmed the steerer tube, and switched to Dura Ace pedals.