Originally Posted by xkwox
I was going to save $1700 and buy a specialized stump jumper comp. But now, I am thinking about spending less and getting the same bike by making it myself, or spending 1700 and getting a better bike buy building it.
I am in the median of bike knowledge. I learned myself how to build computers. So I figure i can learn how to do this.. What's a good start on learning? Just buying a frame, then adding one thing at a time to it?
Sir,
This will be my first post here so please forgive me if I am a noob to this.
I have been out of cycling for a few years due to illness and changes in my family status. Kids getting married, college expenses, and now Grand Children. What a life!
I just bought a Chro-Moly MTB Frame from Nashbar. Now it seems that Nashbar has folks that like them here and then those that don't. I figured it like this. It was a $30.00 Frame and Seatpost deal. If I didn't like it, I would give it to my nephew and let him build it.
This is what I found on the Nashbar Frame. I used a set of Campy Gauges on it to check the rear triangle. It was SPOT on! The frame has canti and disc drops welded on and those welds and those on the frame were very VERY good. Paint Quality was excellent and as good as a Factory bike should.
So far the only thing I've done was drill out the Seat post for the Road style seat binder that I'll be using.
It came with a black alloy Nashbar brand seat post and that was fine by me too. (Remember only $30)
This weekend I bought some parts from the local bike shops. I found a screaming deal on a set of Vuelta StarLite AL MTB Wheels for just a little over $170. These had the looks and performance that I was going for. I also bought an LX 9 Speed Cassette with a 11T small cog to go on these wheels. I put together the new skewers and lubed up the wheels and installed the rear one. (No Fork yet) With the Blue paint of the frame and the Black finish of the Wheels, it has JUST the look I was going for.
I am buying parts as I go along. If all goes well, I'll be at an interview this evening at a Bike Shop and I'll be an employee in short order. This will help in my need for parts and tools.
I have just placed an order today for my Crank, BB, Front Fork and Headset. So far my total for all the parts and the frame comes to $582. Now some would say that this is a lot so far and that I am trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but this frame is really worthy of what I am putting into it.
The rest of my parts I either have in my "JUNK" bin or on a bike that I can salvage from. Even with that, I'll be into this for about $700. Is it worth it? I will say that it is. I have hand selected these parts with the understanding that it will be ridden in the City Streets for a commuter style bike, and on the weekends will be ridden on fast bike paths and dirt roads. This frame is more than up to the challenge of this.
Chris