Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
Just to offer OP another perspective.
I have only experienced zero regret, complete happiness and total satisfaction after completing a build. The bike is perfect, no shortcuts, no compromises. I enjoy riding it because everything fits, feels, and functions exactly like I want it to. And unlike buying a complete bike, I don't spend the following year feeling dissatisfied every time I look at the bike and ride the bike. I also don't continue to spend money every month upgrading all the stuff that doesn't work well or that I don't like the feel or fit of.
Was it your first fixed gear? If not, do you think you would have been as successful at building it up from scratch without already having experience riding the complete build? Did you use any parts that you already had? Did you use tools that you already had?
I think it is a great thing for someone who actually has experience and a couple bikes and a parts bin to buy the frame they want and put it together. Most of the long timers in here fall in that category. I just wouldn't recommend it to someone who titles their thread "Need help with purchasing my first fixie."