Building a bike?
#1
rebmeM roineS
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Building a bike?
Anyone know when it became common to say 'building a bike' when what is really meant is 'getting a frame and all the parts and putting a bike together'? To me, bicycle-building brings to mind the image of a frame builder who might or might not go ahead and put all the parts and pieces on the frame. Is this just a time-saving phrase that has caught on?
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 658
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, building up a bike has pretty much, to my knowledge, always meant assembling the bike from its component parts.
Framebuilding is the term for building the frame from scratch with tubes (and lugs) and solder or welding.
Framebuilding is the term for building the frame from scratch with tubes (and lugs) and solder or welding.
#3
Great State of Varmint
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dante's Third Ring
Posts: 7,476
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
15 Posts
I call it 'building' when someone chooses a frame (or a complete bicycle - taking off the components for another use) and takes the bare frame and adds the components that they have personally selected. Getting a box from BikesDirect full of parts pre-selected and slapping it together doesn't qualify - in my book.
Building the frame, as well, is an art unto it's own right.
Building the frame, as well, is an art unto it's own right.
#4
Senior Member
Yep. But in my mind there is a difference between "building a bike" and "building up a bike" so I know where you are coming from JanMM.
#5
Banned.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,363
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Unless you are building the frame, you are not building a bike. When you just put the parts (even if you select ever one of them) on you are assemblying a bike or maybe at a long stretch building up a bike.
I think maybe this is a BF term just like bifter which I have never heard anywhere else.
I think maybe this is a BF term just like bifter which I have never heard anywhere else.
#6
Senior Member
+1
I totally agree. "Building a bike" should be taken to mean building the frame, then populating it with components. If someone buys the frame and populates it with pieces and parts, that's "building up a bike." Totally different degree of skill involved.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 53
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I always say "building up a bike." But to be picky, if "building a bike" means building a frame (in truth, just one component of the total bike), why it doesn't also mean building the derailleur, the brakes, etc?
#8
Bike addict, dreamer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
New Oxford American Dictionary:
build
verb
1 they were building a tree house: construct, erect, put up, assemble; make, form, create, fashion, model, shape.
2 they are building a business strategy: establish, found, set up, institute, inaugurate, initiate.
3 the pressure was building: increase, mount, intensify, escalate, grow, rise.
Oxford English Dictionary:
1. a. trans. Orig. To construct for a dwelling; to erect (a house), make (a nest). Hence, To erect, construct (any work of masonry), and by extension, To construct by fitting together of separate parts; chiefly with reference to structures of considerable size, as a ship or boat, a carriage, an organ, a steam-engine (not, e.g. a watch or a piano). Const. of, more rarely from, out of, with (the material), on (the foundation). In early mod.Eng. used with up without change of meaning; but to build up (in literal sense) now implies a contrast with pulling down, or with a previous state of decay, as ‘to build up again’. to build a fire: to arrange or pile the fuel. to build a railroad, said in U.S., is unknown in England.
Therefore, he is building a bike
A.
build
verb
1 they were building a tree house: construct, erect, put up, assemble; make, form, create, fashion, model, shape.
2 they are building a business strategy: establish, found, set up, institute, inaugurate, initiate.
3 the pressure was building: increase, mount, intensify, escalate, grow, rise.
Oxford English Dictionary:
1. a. trans. Orig. To construct for a dwelling; to erect (a house), make (a nest). Hence, To erect, construct (any work of masonry), and by extension, To construct by fitting together of separate parts; chiefly with reference to structures of considerable size, as a ship or boat, a carriage, an organ, a steam-engine (not, e.g. a watch or a piano). Const. of, more rarely from, out of, with (the material), on (the foundation). In early mod.Eng. used with up without change of meaning; but to build up (in literal sense) now implies a contrast with pulling down, or with a previous state of decay, as ‘to build up again’. to build a fire: to arrange or pile the fuel. to build a railroad, said in U.S., is unknown in England.
Therefore, he is building a bike
A.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
2. Most BF posters use "alloy" as a synonym for "aluminum".
3. We may be more precise but we're gonna lose anyway so we might as well get over it.
#10
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 1,620
Bikes: 2013 Orange Brompton M3L; 2006 Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Fixie (Eddy Orange); 2022 Surly Cross Check, Black
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
1 Post
Well when people assemble custom PCs they also refer to it as "building" a computer.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 903
Bikes: 2010 Kona Dr. Dew, Moose Bicycle XXL (fat bike), Yuba Mundo V3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Look at it this way: It wouldn't occur to most people that you could or would build a frame from scratch. If you specify that you're building the frame it sounds a lot more impressive.
#12
rebmeM roineS
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
'building a bike' is already in such common usage amongst the cycling community that there's no turning back.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#13
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,463 Times
in
1,433 Posts
If that is a picture of you, JanMM, then you've been around bikes for about as long as I have, since you're wearing a Bell Biker in the picture. Back in the 70's, putting components on a frame was called building a bike, at least in my area (NYC).
I don't think it's an abuse of the word. We "write" things with a computer, without a pen.
I don't think it's an abuse of the word. We "write" things with a computer, without a pen.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#14
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Or "assembling a bike." But that doesn't sound nearly as exotic as "building a bike." Even WalMart "assembles" bikes.
#15
rebmeM roineS
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
A long history of popular usage confirms the status of an expression as 'correct'.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#17
Bike addict, dreamer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#18
rebmeM roineS
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
"assembling" makes sense for modular homes, or homes 'built' with prebuilt wall systems or roof trusses, etc.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#19
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,463 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Exactly. It's all relative. I say I make my own coffee, because I grind the beans myself. Some roast their own beans. I suppose some GROW their own beans. And so on.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#20
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
I think the phrase "custom built bike" to refer to selecting particular components to use on an off-the-peg frame bothers me more than the phrase "building a bike." To me a custom built bike includes a custom built frame, designed to the rider's particular requirements.
#21
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Go back a few years and Most frames were Steel. I used to manufacture Karts (Go-Karts) I can weld but I designed- bought the tubing- Bend them to shape and tacked together for a better welder than I am to do a professional job. Sure I can weld but I knew people that could do it better. Then Aluminium came along and in the early days Ally welding took some special equipment. I did not have it.
Now transfer over to Bikes with Ti- That takes an expert to stick together.
I also used to be a fibre glass laminator building 30ft cabin cruisers- but there is no way that I could build a C.F.Frame.
I dare say that I could get hold of some lightweight Steel tubing- and then copy someone elses design on the critical geometry parts and build a frame.
Why?
Frames are cheap- they are a component of a bike and it does not matter what material it is made of. I do not have the bike design skills and I know there are better welders around than me.
So I do a custom build on a frame and forks assy that I buy. I then build the parts around that frame with carefull selection of what I know works and is compatable with my wallet.
Now transfer over to Bikes with Ti- That takes an expert to stick together.
I also used to be a fibre glass laminator building 30ft cabin cruisers- but there is no way that I could build a C.F.Frame.
I dare say that I could get hold of some lightweight Steel tubing- and then copy someone elses design on the critical geometry parts and build a frame.
Why?
Frames are cheap- they are a component of a bike and it does not matter what material it is made of. I do not have the bike design skills and I know there are better welders around than me.
So I do a custom build on a frame and forks assy that I buy. I then build the parts around that frame with carefull selection of what I know works and is compatable with my wallet.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
How about "building a home"? Does it mean that I am the architect, the soil engineer, and all the subcontractors? Maybe not. Lennar is a home builder and KB Homes. I bet most of their work is sub contracted out. They just package the thing together.
#23
Bike addict, dreamer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To me "to assemble" means to put together something that is already partially built, where all the parts are already picked and matched up, such as bike that comes in a box, speakers+stands, IKEA furniture, etc. A bike frame is just a part, it may be the most important part that dictates the choice of other parts and give the bike its style and function, but it's just a part: in itself it can't do anything. So using "build" seems perfectly fine to me when applied to putting together a bike from a frame. You have to pick the parts, match up the components, do some designing, it's not just simple "assembly".
Adam
Adam
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pacific, WA
Posts: 1,260
Bikes: Custom 531ST touring, Bilenky Viewpoint, Bianchi Milano, vintage Condor racer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
"Build a bike" meaning assemble a bike from the frame up was certainly in use by the 1970s bike boom.
If you meant brazing up the frame yourself, you'd say "build a frame" rather than "build a bike." e.g. Talbot's classic Designing and Building Your Own Frameset: An Illustrated Guide for the Amateur Bicycle Builder.
If you meant brazing up the frame yourself, you'd say "build a frame" rather than "build a bike." e.g. Talbot's classic Designing and Building Your Own Frameset: An Illustrated Guide for the Amateur Bicycle Builder.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
heymatthew
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
9
09-04-14 01:12 PM