New Bike Build
 

I would like to start a project to build a new road bike. I am planning on buying a Cervelo Soloist frameset and building it up from scratch myself. I believe that I will probably not save any money doing it myself, but I want to do if for the experience and to fully understand how the parts work together. I believe that if I build it up myself, I may save many trips to the local LBS for periodic adjustments.
Can anyone suggest a source for the process of building the bike?

Two sources I've relied on heavily while learning to build up bikes:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/hub.html

Bob

If this is your first experience assembling a bike you are really starting at the top. Most home bike mechanics get their experience doing a range of ever increasingly complex work on an existing bike before tackling a brand new high-line frame and group build.

I don't want to discourage you but any newby mistake could be very expensive. If you are not experienced with previous bike work, you might try to get an accomplished mechanic to assist with this project even if you do most of the work yourself. The extra money spent could be well worth it.

I used both of the above references for my first ever bike build a couple of months ago, together with the instructions you get with the various components. It worked out fine, but you need to take your time (hard to do when you're itching to ride it), have patience and be prepared to do things over and over again. I had never played with components before and I built my bike for the same reasons you did - not to save money, but to learn how it all goes together and now I'm confident in making my own adjustments. Also, this forum is a great place to ask questions if you get stuck if you're too shy to ask your LBS. Enjoy.

Building bikes is an addiction.
It always starts with "I just want to learn",
and usually ends with a garage full of bikes and components that are constantly evolving.

Enjoy

Right. However, using auto mechanics as an analogy, you start by doing oil changes, not by assembling a Formula 1 engine.

I assembled a Surly LHT in November. The thing is the tools. I've got my own headset press, and bb tools. Its much harder and risky without the proper tooling...

p.s. proper bolt torque is important too for crank area etc...

I'm working on a build now (actually I'm waiting on parts). My approach was to work with my LBS. The parts are more expensive than buying them from ebay (I bought the frame on ebay), but they will happily help me out or give me a clue when/if I get stuck.

I should say that I've taken some Park Tool wrenching classes with them and have stripped my bike down to bare frame and reassembled, so it's not all that mysterious.

The Park Tool site is indispensable; Sheldon Brown's can also be very helpful. The Zinn book (...Art of Roadbike Maintenance) is also good. I have other references, but these are the ones I look at the most. Between these and the helpful folks on this site, you have most of what you need.

You can do it but as mentioned take your time or you will screw up something. You will need tools and a bike stand. At least one good book or a laptop close also helps. If you don't rush it or use force on parts you should be OK. I built only one bike but it was a great learning experience. Much cheaper and rewarding than taking classes.

That's exactly the kind of prior experience I recommended.