Jordan300

I am thinking about getting a 29er hard tail. I am gonna spend around $1800 in April, so I have a while to decide. I wanted to get some opinions.

I saw some buildkits on pricepoint with SRAM x9 stuff, I customized one of the build kits to around $800 and I would just need to find a Frame. Maybe a Niner Frame, not sure, open to ideas.

I have also been looking at Giant, Raliegh, Felt, and Specialized. Trek had some I liked but not enough. All have some 29er's I like. I live in Gainesville so I have access to a lot of bike shops, there are like 9 that I can think of off hand. So lots of brands to choose from.


My question is, would you prefer to build it yourself with mostly parts you have selected? Or buy the bike stock from the shop?

shaderider

https://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Raleigh-XX...item1c0d702b75

Zephyr11

I like buying stock since you generally get more for the money. If there's something I really want on it, I'll try to find a shop that is willing to buy back parts and put the credit towards the component I do want. If you're patient and good at hunting out deals, you can put together a bike with components of your choice for a similar price though.

Jordan300

I haven't thought about the whole buyback thing, I'll ask some of the shop guys about that.

Terry66

Having just finished my first build, I am kind of torn on which direction I'll go next time. I mean there are benefits of both. I found that even by bargain hunting, I still spent more on the build than I would had I just bought a bike new. The difference is that I got to pick and choose how I wanted the bike to look and most important, I really learned a lot. I mean prior to the build, my bike wrenching skills pretty much stopped at changing a flat.…now I have pressed in a headset, installed a bottom bracket, cut a fork tube, installed a fork, put on and adjusted a derailleur, etc. I guess it just depends on what is important to you. It is real easy to just walk in the LBS, drop the cash and go riding!

Jordan300

Yeah, I am a fairly good mechanic, so I am have the tools and the ability to do put it together. I like the idea of customizing the bike the way I want, but I might be better off looking around until I find something I like. Thanks for the input. This is really tough.

craigcraigcraig

if you buy from the shop you can test ride also, or test ride something you think you would like to build up then you will know how it rides before you put tha $$ into it.

Jordan300

Good point, I am going to hit some Demos from specialized and giant in Nov. That'll give me a good idea of what I like.

Maelstrom 

I have done both. I don't have an exact answer. Both works thought. Work out cost, include YOUR time in there btw, unless you work for free. If both work out to a similar price, I would buy stock...otherwise I would make it on my own

nachomc

I would prefer to build. Hand picking the parts for my 29er SS, and then assembling it myself gave me a lot of pride in that bike. In the end, I had a bike that was exactly what I wanted, exactly how I wanted it. I love riding it.

nachomc

Can you really put a price on your own labor, when it's a labor love?

ed 

I haven't charged anyone yet.

kenhill3

I couldn't afford myself.

Terry66

I am pretty lazy and get distracted easy…if I were paying myself to work on my bike, I would get fired.

Maelstrom 

haha..when I sometimes work 80 hour weeks...ya I can. Talk to me next summer if and when I have time to do anything else haha

4evrplan

This was my thought too. For guys that love the work, you should figure out how much the work is worth for you to get to do and subtract that amount from the cost of parts.

mystolenbikes

I say buy stock I don't have the patients for the build, I don't wanna wait days or weeks to ride my bike.
I just wanna ride NOW!

kenhill3

I don't have any patients either.

Maybe these guys could could help with your next build:

Thor29

I currently have 8 bikes (including cyclocross, road, fixed gear, etc) and I built every single one myself including lacing up the wheels and installing the headsets. I obviously have a serious bike building addiction and should probably seek professional help. (is there a such thing as Bike Builders Anonymous?)

For me, spec'ing the bike and building it is a big part of the fun. I can't imagine ever buying a stock bike again no matter how close to my preferences the stock build is. That said, if you are looking at build kits instead of individual components, you might as well get a stock bike since you are giving up the individual component choices anyway.

X-LinkedRider

If I am going to spend that kind of money, I like to buy it from the retailer/dealer. Make sure it is properly fitted and if anything goes wrong with it, you have some place to take it. No matter how good of a bike wrencher you are, they can get parts and fast when you buy one of theirs.

Svr

That's pretty much the way I feel.

I've been riding a long time, I know what I like and I'm picky.

However, I would consider a stock bike as long as I could customize a few things....


Grips
Handlebars
Brakes/Levers
Shifter type
Stem length and angle
Saddle
Seatpost length/offset/rail clamp design
Tire size/width/tread pattern
Gear ratios
Crank length
Specific clipless pedal type
Frame design/geometry.....


I'm sure my local shops would be happy to change all these things for me at no extra charge and deliver it to my door within a day or two...

nachomc

I think it depends on the LBS. I'm fortunate in that I have two great LBS' near my house. If one doesn't have what I need, the other usually does. I also use the two LBS' to do the labor I can't/don't do, like facing the frame, pressing in the headset, etc. Putting some money in their pockets while sharing the passion of building something special goes a long way

ape3000

I bought a 2008 stock cannondale frame through pricemeup.com and got a gret deal from one of their suppliers, however this is a more expensive and time consuming way to get a bike, so it depends on what your needs are. Next time I would just buy the complete stock bike.

Jordan300

I found a build kit on Jensonusa that let me pick a lot of different things, This is what i have chosen so far.
Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brake '09

Sram Attack Trigger Shifters 9 Speed

Truvativ Stylo 2.2 GPX Crankset '08
Sram X.9 Front Derailleur
Sram X.9 Rear Derailleur
Sram PC-951 9SP Chain
Sram PG 980 Cassette

Shimano M525 Disc Mavic A317 29Er Wheels
Blk Hubs, Rims, Dt Ss Sil Spokes 32H

Kenda Tomac Small Block 8 Tire
29 X 2.1 Kevlar Folding Blk/Blk

Standard Presta Valve Tube
29" X 1.75-2.125"

Kalloy Laprade Seatpost
350mm X 27.2mm, Black

WTB Speed V Comp Saddle
Black, Steel Rails

Truvativ Hussefelt Stem
Black, 1 1/8", 60mm, 31.8mm Clamp

Ritchey Comp Rizer Bar
Black, 31.8mm, 1.5, 26.5" 9/6 Deg

Pedros Dot Grip
Cane Creek S-3 Headset

kenhill3

Jordan300-

Cost on that package?