This is definitely a great thread to have around. I just wish I saw it earlier. I just bought my first real bike and my Mom was going balistic when I told her how much it was. And to think it was only a 19.5" Trek 4100 Really an excellent bike IMO but like all sub $500 bikes all the components are cheapened out. The tires are blah so Iīm switching to either Panaracer FireXCs or Velociraptors and of course the derailleors arenīt the greatests but I still love my bike

Now I was wondering one thing. Are bikes like computers? Iīm an active member at OCForums and of course everyone there builds their own PCs from the best components while at the same time saving money compared with buying those terrible prebuilt PCs. So how about bikes, is it not cheaper to simply buy the frame and all components seperately and then put it all together? I canīt be that difficult right? Do most people here do that or does everyone just go out and buy a Specialized Enduro and complain about the components and then upgrade a $2000 bike into a $5000 bike?

Thanks