Hi everyone,
I just got a frame, and now I'm looking to pick up a groupset (probably Rival or Force depending on the price difference) for the build.

I've been looking around online, but I'm not really sure what the best deal is. In your collective experiences, what has worked best?
a) try to find a deal on eBay (it seems like new or pull-offs end at nearly same price as in on-line stores)
b) try to get it through an online store like performance or nashbar (any other recommendations if this is the best route?)
c) buy a complete bike and sell off the frame and, depending on the quality, wheels (and if so, any suggestions as to where to go?)
d) try to pick up a complete bike off of craigslist and then sell off the frame and wheels

Thanks!

Talk to Tom at gvhbikes.com he has the best prices around. I have heard that psimet.com has good prices as well but I'm not sure what those are.

Does this need to be done soon, or can you have this project bike sitting on your workstand for a few months? I'm a big fan of piecing a bike together, but finding the right deals on individual parts takes time (plus, I generally work with mid-range Shimano stuff, which is easier to find than mid/high-end SRAM).

wiggle, chainreaction, ribble, probikekit (.co.uk)

psimet is the way to go.

i heard psimet as well and e-mailed him asking about such, his response was that he is taking a break from offering groupsets. If you can find a place for SRAM Red let me know.

This isn't a huge rush plan, but I'm really interested in going SRAM, which seems to be somewhat harder to piece together, at least in a way that saves money (plus it seems that the newest incarnation has some nice features not present on the older sets). That being said, a good enough deal on a Shimano groupset might convince me...

I've already contacted psimet, but unfortunately it seems he's out of the component business for the time being. I do plan on picking up some wheels from him in the spring though.

Edit: beat to the punch!

thanks for the link to gvhbikes.com, seems to have very good prices and can select every thing i need or dont need. for example i dont need a cassette as I will using existing wheels with a powermeter that already have the cassette i use.

You need to look at probikekit.

You can buy a group, or built up components a la carte.

Entire chorus 11sp group is $1300. DA 7900 for $1600.

when i got my rival groupset i went into performance and asked if they had anything on clearance. i went in 3 times a week for 3 weeks and spent a total of 550 dollars on the groupset. also bought some on double points weekend so had about 70 dollars or so to spend on computer, better stem, and some nutrition.

anyway if you dont want campy go to your LBS and ask for take offs or anything from 09 on clearance. you will be amazed at what people can do for you.

even if you dont get it all at the same place, shop around. its worth it. bikebling.com has BB. for some reason the BB was one of the hardest things to find beside rival brakes.

+1 If I'm building up a bike, I take my time and look for deals on individual pieces. I'm also not as picky, and don't mind mixing groups and parts. Although the bike might look a little funny, I can usually end up with a bike that is technically worth 3 times as much as I paid for the parts.

For example, my current road bike has RPM cranks and bottom bracket, FSA chainrings, 8 speed era Ultegra brakes and front derailleur, 10 speed 105 chain, 10 speed Ultegra rear derailleur and brifters, SRAM Force casette, Ritchey stem, AlphaQ seatpost, 3T bars, CK headset, Reynolds fork, Forte Titan wheels, and Specialized Toupe saddle. An interesting but functional mix, and I have less than $1000 invested in it.

Here ya go: https://www.texascyclesport.com

I got the campagnolo record 10sp 8 piece group for my new to me Bianchi 928 T-Cube frame a few weeks back. It was the best deal I could find online and in the states.

2010 8 piece Rival $650.00
2010 8 piece Force $999.00

Sounds good to me. It is at bicycledoctorusa.com

Bought Chorus 11 speed from Ribble for $1000 new

Just out of curiosity, where do you guys pick up your components? Discount on-line sellers when on sale? eBay? Craigslist?

Personally, mostly a lot of Craigslist and careful picking around online stores. Ive never successfully purchased anything from ebay- I seem to get sniped or prices skyrocket every time.

Yes, yes, yes, and I'll add bicycle swapmeets to the list.

Rich, sorry to interrupt, but ya got any Lou Malnadi's today?

performance has the rival rear and front derailleurs on sale for cheap right now.

+1 on craigslist

I picked up a very lightly used 7800 group (ex the cranks) for $200

Check out Ribble in the UK. Deduct 15% from all listed prices. Think Athena 11 speed.