I had been looking for cheap bike just to get around without finding much not overpriced or requiring the extraction of 20 year old grease. The latter would be fine if all of my bike tools and small pile of spare parts were with me. I am looking at an Orbea frame which again brings up the latter problem but with much better reward. Just wondering how little it would be feasible to expect to spend in cheap parts alone from a bike flipper or similar person with a healthy stock pile of parts. I am far from being above putting steel wheels and vintage components together for the short term. Not having owned anything but mid 80's steel I am unsure if a $$ crappy old tens speed would be harvestable for workable parts on a newer frame. Realistically I should focus more on a vintage bike that would take heavy miles since the carbon stays and fork are only part way to my soft wish to avoid aluminum till I can go full carbon. Money is playing as much of a place in the decision as being less susceptible to theft. Appreciative of any constructive thought or leanings

If it were I, I wouldnt bother with the old parts routine. just go with some modern day components, 9 speed or better if it were mine, and be done. Then you will have a decent bike, without the frustration of mismatched parts and incompatability.
And secondly there isnt any thing wrong with modern day aluminum. wheel and tire selection can make just as big a difference with ride quality as frame selection. good luck with your build.

Oh, and I would like to add that I understand your pain.

I really need something I can ride now since the grocery run on foot can be a bit time consuming. I truly posted this with a strong sense of humor regarding the absolute lack of style. If it worked until I got a decent paycheck so I could round up something from this century I would have succeeded in a small way at least. I know it would take grovelling beyond my usual limit to get the thing put together in short order if at all. Maybe I will hit reverse when it comes time to buy though. Nice bike but the team colors put me off buying a couple years ago when the itch was in full effect. I went from the opinion I'd never put enough money down to get a well equipped new bike to seeing an Orbea and knowing one day I would.

If you need something now then perhaps it would be best to grab an older bike and do the mainenance to make it ridable. Or look into a ( yurk, just threw up in my mouth a litttle there) fixie. or just a basket bike for grocery runs. This way you can save a little of your coinage for the "good" bike. Good luck with your decision, and builds.

Oh, whats wrong with the colours? So I have to ride with earplugs, so what. It actually isnt as bad in person but it do take some getting used to.

Lance fever being in full effect I was getting sickened by every bike selling a sponsors product and the full team replica wear to complement. I pretty sure I will sell stuff myself if need be and get the frame if someone hasn't offered him more. It is pretty cheap at $150 I imagine. I could be wrong but I hope not. Ha, that reminds me of the cheaper Mitis frame in team colors that I passed on because I didn't want anything to do with the cheaper components. No chance of feeling like a snob doing a complete turnaround like that I guess.

Gone, it would have been fun but this wasn't the bike for me