Ok so I am building a SS MTB. I got a cheapo AL frame off of eBay for $15, bought some wheels (and tubes, tires, freewheel, and chain) from the LBS and got a free headset (New Race Face Deus) from a buddy. Same buddy has a bunch of other parts that will just about complete my build (bars, stems, V-brakes, levers, crank and BB). But I am torn about how to go forward with this project. The frame is peeling BADLY (paint is flying off at the head tube and seat collor area) and I want to get it refinished. I am thinking about powder coating it but am not sure if I want to dump much more money into this project.

So do I just do it or do I assemble the bike with the pain coming off and ride it for a while then take it apart and reassemble later? If I do the powder coat it wont happen for a month or two (maybe three?) and thus I wont be able to ride it until then, but if I assemble it now I will have to take it back apart and would then have to pay 2X for headset install and once to remove it. Sounds like a pretty big waste of money but I would get to ride sooner.