To DIY or not
06-22-21 | 08:21 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,595
Likes: 2,463
From: Bastrop Texas
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
An economically fair plan is to invest in a frame. Not just the frame but rather a complete bicycle with "Great Bones". They are out there. Bicycle with a great frame and, so- so components.
Then a few months latter ya get a better brake set, and then a better seat, and then better bars, and then another wheel set...
After a few years you have a perfect bike with all proven components. And if you are doing the work yourself an education as well...
Love It... Happy Happy... Joy Joy...
Then a few months latter ya get a better brake set, and then a better seat, and then better bars, and then another wheel set...
After a few years you have a perfect bike with all proven components. And if you are doing the work yourself an education as well...
Love It... Happy Happy... Joy Joy...
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Last edited by zandoval; 06-23-21 at 01:32 PM.
06-22-21 | 09:11 PM
#27
Broken neck Ken
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 3,516
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Trek Mt Track XCNimbus MUni
Off the shelf bikes are competing on specs; in particular, they are competing on spec'd parts that buyers pay the most attention to: frameset, derailleurs, crank. Notice I didn't say groupset, because that term implies a full suite of components that are often not included with the off the shelf bike. The parts that are below buyer's radar are where they save money. When you build a bike yourself, you're probably not going to spec Ultegra level derailleurs alongside a house branded budget hubset, BB, seatpost. chainrings, seatpost clamp, spokes, etc. But off the shelf bikes will be spec'd exactly like that. The off the shelf bike will nickel and dime you, or in today's dollars $100 and $500 you, until it might end up close to the DIY bike.
It might *still* be a better deal, depending. But it's not as bad as it looks on paper.
It might *still* be a better deal, depending. But it's not as bad as it looks on paper.
07-01-21 | 10:35 PM
#28
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Building your own costs more. Component compatibility is also an issue, then one must choose silver or black. And sometimes those DIY videos don't work like they should in real life.
On the other hand, the pride of making it yourself, using hand picked parts and getting to know every detail of your bike is priceless.
On the other hand, the pride of making it yourself, using hand picked parts and getting to know every detail of your bike is priceless.
07-01-21 | 11:22 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 1,478
From: Oakland, CA
New frame, new wheels, new parts, all-new bike? Your gonna pay a lot more if you build from scratch. The bike companies get ridiculously low pricing on parts... they're buying tens of thousands of, say, rear derailleurs at a time.
That said, if you know what you want, and the big guys don't make it, the gap can close pretty quickly. If you take an off-the-rack bike, and change bars, stem, saddle, and gearing, you're likely to get close to breaking even.
If you buy used parts, closeouts, hit the co-op, trade your local shop rats beer for take-offs, etc, you can make a rad bike for not much bread. There's a bunch of reasons that the folks at your shop all ride frankenbikes. (Many of those reasons can be summed up in one word: "poverty"... but also bike shop people tend to be bike nerds.)
Being OK with one less cog in back can save you some serious coin.
Lastly, a built-up bike is always cooler than a stock big-brand bike... especially to the person riding it.
--Shannon
That said, if you know what you want, and the big guys don't make it, the gap can close pretty quickly. If you take an off-the-rack bike, and change bars, stem, saddle, and gearing, you're likely to get close to breaking even.
If you buy used parts, closeouts, hit the co-op, trade your local shop rats beer for take-offs, etc, you can make a rad bike for not much bread. There's a bunch of reasons that the folks at your shop all ride frankenbikes. (Many of those reasons can be summed up in one word: "poverty"... but also bike shop people tend to be bike nerds.)
Being OK with one less cog in back can save you some serious coin.
Lastly, a built-up bike is always cooler than a stock big-brand bike... especially to the person riding it.
--Shannon
