Originally Posted by harrier (Post 7176389)

$100 for the frame
$600 for the repaint
$600 for new wheels and crankset
$100 for Brooks Saddle
$100 for Nitto rack
$45 for Nitto bars
$50 for Nitto stem

Did it "need" to be $1,600? No way. I could have ridden the $150 bike all day. But it was a little small (25" frame for my 6'3" body). I hated the old seat. The old SR Randonneur bars are too narrow (I wear a 46" jacket). The reach was too low so I got a Technomic Deluxe Stem.

The two biggest costs, repainting and new wheels, were because I wanted them. But the point was that my bike is now an equivalent (new condition, great wheels, great fit), not just an old bike with similar geometry.

And I suppose I should add another $100+ for the innumerable rolls of handlebar tape and brake/derailleur cables I went through to get the look and configuration I wanted.

Originally Posted by Lamplight (Post 7173585)

$1,600? I did a similar thing with my Univega and I still may not have topped $1,000, even with Honjo fenders and a Berthoud bag. My brother has spent about $1600 building up his Surly LHT into a "poor man's" Rivendell, though.

Originally Posted by harrier (Post 7204060)

I met Grant Peterson of Riv, and he was very wry - my favorite quote: "The guys in the spandex uniforms are just older guys who couldn't play sports in high school and are dying to wear a uniform."

In their catalog, he really lays out his positions and arguments in a clear, defensible way. You can decide you don't agree, but you can't say he is kneejerk in his opinions.

BTW, he has also found Jesus in Wool bike clothing.