"From stratch" for me would be buying all the parts, but assembling them myself. Nothing with welding the frame, etc.

I've built some other things (different not-quite-as-mechanical area) so I was wondering. You can get better betters than the a general manufacturer would use, or skim on if they throw in some cheap parts somewhere.

Avoiding my local bike shop (not you guys or your shop, etc. Mine's elitist and generally has an attitude.

Because I've built a couple wheels and replaced chain rings, pedals, etc.

And any mistakes or the work would be mine. It wouldn't be relying on the bike shop and then discovering someone there botch something, took a shortcut, didn't know what they were doing, etc.

And then I'd really know the bike.

On the negative side, it does sound like it might actually be more expensive.


For bikes, does it actually end up being more expensive if you're building a bike yourself vs. buying an assembled/stock one? There's an investment in tools and things like buying a whole container of a specific oil if you only need a little.


I was also wondering how you know how the bike feels, if you sit 'correctly' on it, etc. if it's not built yet. Do you know just know your bike frame size and go from there? Otherwise you get toward the end of the process and realize it's a little too short possibly length or heightwise.