Originally Posted by
JonnyHK
The only time I've built up a new bike at a huge saving to anything a bike company can do I had a couple of advantages.
1 - groupset at 'staff' price via a friend who is an engineer at one of the big three component companies
2 - custom steel frame at 'team' price direct from the frame builder who was the team sponsor
You can't beat trade prices or the economies of scale unless you get a couple of sweetheart deals to help.
I think there is an inherent flaw in this logic.
The problem is that when people buy a bike from a bike company they pay $x and then 1,2, 6 etc. months later pay another $y to upgrade things they don't like.
However, if you build up the bike yourself you already paid to get what you want and there is no later $y to add.
I found this out today when I realized, I'm done! There is nothing to upgrade about my bike save for really high end wheels years down the track.