Farby

So I have gotten the go ahead from the wife. Budget is 2k. I am really interested in building up a bike myself rather than just buying one already done. I currently have a trek 1600, so I would like something other than aluminum but I am interested in hearing what everybody else would build within the 2k range.

so what would you go with Frame? Components? etc...

ElJamoquio

Powertap, Rival, random aluminum frame, ritchey WCS.

You don't want aluminum, so sub in a Pedalforce frame or some such.

merlinextraligh

Pedal Force with ultegra, and a nice set of wheels.

datlas 

I am sure you will get a whole spectrum of suggestions.

Not to put cold water on your plan, but at this price point I think you would do MUCH better by buying a complete bike....you can do some minor tweaks or customizations...just something to consider.

Doug

Matt Gaunt

Don't quite know how much 2k is when everything is taken into consideration but I built my RC for under £2k. I'd say I'd do it again, but I already sort of have with the RC2! If you're looking at carbon, doug's advice is definitely applicable. You should aim to buy the best frame you can, finishing kit and even wheels can easily be swapped out later for relatively little cost, but if you have a badly handling/incorrectly sized frame, you're not going to ride it. Fact.

sced

Maybe a BD donor bike, leaving $800-$1,000 for a funky frame? You can get custom steel in that price range, off-the-rack CF for less, Italian something, used Ti (new?). Loads of options. Further customize in the future.

merlinextraligh

Unfortunately at todays exchange rates, that 3916 USD.

logdrum

Ridley Excalibur was/is 2K from Competitive Cyclist. I built a bike from used parts and it cost me under 1500, not carbon just alu/carbon

RichinPeoria

Leader, Blue, Nashbar, or maybe something Italian from Smart cycles.com..

Veloce or Centaur gruppo from PKB

Khamsin wheels

Matt Gaunt

Surely components aren't the same price over there though. If iPods are cheaper, I'm sure you guys are not paying almost $350 for Ultegra STI levers. Are you?

Banzai

Building is not cheaper than buying. Building is something you do if you like the mechanical work and want to say to people "I built this bike".

You don't build to save money.

I built my commuter, and managed to build for the same price as buying whole by spending a year searching out sales and closeouts and coupon deals.

schu

A quick search at performance bike says that we are paying between $300-360. I'm sure there are probably cheaper places around.

Matt Gaunt

Very true. I was fortunate in that most of my parts came in at close to trade prices (the wheels were a steal as they were from the previous model year - have never seen them so cheap on eBay used, let alone in a shop). These things take time though, and that means patience. Some say it's a virtue...

JMT114

That's what I was thinking.

Are you going to keep your Trek, or are you willing to donate some of those parts to the new build?

bigskyTi

I dissagree that you can buy a bike cheaper than building, as long as you are willing to go used.

Depending on what parts you might be able to take off your current ride you coudl build something pretty sweet for $2k I think I spent less than that on on my wife's Paketa with Ultegra and Zipps. (of course it was a 650 so the wheels were super cheap).

Heck, I'd sell you my Ghisallo with mostly new DA grouppo for right around that 2K mark. swipe your wheels of your current rig while you save for another set and you would be riding in style.

elemental

Pedalforce QS2 Rival with wheels deleted = $1414

Neuvation R28 SL5 front with SL4 rear = $414


According to the PF and Neuvation specs, this would come out at sub 16 pounds, I figure in the real world as you ride it maybe somewhere in the sixteens would be nice.

There you have it, $1828, full carbon, SRAM Rival, sub 1500g wheelset, sub sixteen pound bike (using claimed weights). This is what I would build.

Farby

I will be keeping the trek so no parts can be donated.
I know that it will likely be more expensive to build up, but I am looking forward to the mechanical/learning aspect.

Farby

Bumping this for additional suggestions. Thanks!

SushiJoe

Pedal Force frame, Rival drivetrain, built wheels with Open Pros, Ultegra hubs and DT spokes.

late

This is what I did..
I bought a Gunnar Sport frame. Getting a frame that suits you is the tough part.
Habanero makes some nice frames; but that's up to you.

I got shifters, the crank, and a bunch of other parts either off ebay or sales on the internet. Colorado Cyclist has nice prices on wheels. Durace hubs on Open Pros or R1.1 rims.

I bought a bunch of parts from my LBS so they wouldn't feel left out, and then
had them build it up.

knucklesandwich

GVHbikes.com
Lots of build options- Italian steel, aluminum, Soma's, some random titanium
Good customer service- very easy to deal with.

Right now they have some specials on bike with SRAM Rival in the $1300 to $1500 range, as well as a nice build kit web page.
I'm not a shill. I didn't even buy my new bike from them, but came very close and was happy with the prompt service and replies.

lee_eldridge

What I would do is buy/build an aluminum frame bike with ultegra/rival or higher and some bomb proof training wheels (open pros, cxp's , etc), and get a nice set of deep section carbon clinchers for races.

Full Rival Groupo: $600 on ebay
Scattante Alum Frame & Carbon Fork: $230 shipped
Open Pros w/ Ultegra Hubs: $200 on ebay
Seat of choice: $75 on ebay
Ritchey Bars/stem/seatpost: $125 on ebay
Lightly used Carbon Clinchers: $1000 on ebay (might have to search and wait for a good deal)

TOTAL: $2300ish for an entire training/racing setup.

kudude

That was my budget, here's what I built:

2006 Giant TCR carbon frame, ebay $550 (came w/ giant post)
Ksyrium Elites, ebay $250
Ultegra SL group, PBK, $650
saddle of your choice
ritchey bars/stem, ebay $40
cheap cages, bar tape
Ultegra pedals, PBK $65
Sworks shoes, specialized site, $100
michelin lithion tires, PBK, $40
cheap wireless computer, performance, $30

~$1800, and just as raceable as any bike. Not too much money in the frame, although I've wrecked it hard once and dropped it 2 more times while on it and no problems. Haven't weighed it, but the consensus is it's in the sub 18lb range. Ultegra SL shifts very nicely, the wheels are bomb proof (and I really have tried to break them at least once). The frame is stiff. I'm happy.

droptop

check craigslist also. i am nearing the end of a build and i already want to upgrade parts. i bought used 105, 9 speed parts and i want to switch to rival already. im lucky and won't take too much of a loss, as i have a friend who wants to get rid of his sora triple. just keep in mind its the little upgrades that will throw you off budget. i went from a $700 craigslist special to about $800 on used components, a craigslist frame, and a handbuild wheelset. free steel fork... it just goes downhill from there. when its all said and done, im sure i will have well over 1k in it. and im a broke college student. i did enjoy the building experience, but it was fairly intuitive anyway, and really only took one night to put it all together. not as much enjoyment as putting on my supercharger- a 4 day ordeal.

kudude

what did you supercharge?