Way back in the "(Welded) Steel Shoot-out", I mentioned that I had found a bike on Boston Craigslist that looked promising. I went to see it last night, and it looks great - everything is in truly perfect (mint?) condition. The guy selling it works at Belmont Wheelworks and seems like he knows what's up. He's asking $700 firm, so I was wondering if you all think it's worth it. I tend to think yes (it would cost me $1000 for this build-up, easily), jrowe thought it was a bit steep before I went to see it, but a third (fourth, fifth, etc.) opinion never hurt. Here's the scoop:

Surly Steamroller
Mavic Open Pro rims (Surly rear hub, Shimano low-flange front hub)
Sugino 75 crank (Shimano bb)
Brooks B17 saddle (not sure what the seatpost was...nothing fancy)
ITM stem (one of the more low end)
Cane Creek headset (don't remember the model...it was late, I was tired)
decent bars (take a look at the picture in the link below)

To see it: https://boston.craigslist.org/bik/91539525.html

Holla back at me.

For a "never ridden" bike that is a more than fair price. Cranks, wheels and saddle, if new, would run you at least $400. Getting the rest for $300? Without tax or shipping? If you want a steamroller, this is a decent deal. Not a big fan of Cane Creek headsets, but other than that ...

The steamroller frame is nothing special. btw. Just straight guage 4130 taiwanese cro-mo steel. Probably comparable to the IRO mark V. I'd wait for the new IRO angus, whch sounds like a much better frame for the $$$.

That much I know. On the other hand, one of the things I wanted was a spot for a rear brake to be able to run it in freewheel mode for the occasional long ride (say what you will). More than the frame, I really like the cranks and wheels on this bike. My thinking is that if I find the frame that terrible, I can always take the parts and sell the frame for a decent amount to finance something a bit better like a Soma Rush.

I have seen better bargains go by on ebay without bids. By that I mean a decent bike with gears you could turn into a fixed or singlespeed by changing the wheel and removing the unneeded parts. I've seen lots of decent touring bikes for $400 bucks and spend $100 on a new rear wheel and boom! You're there. Then again, I'm big on recycling old bikes. YMMV. Its not a terrible deal, its just no bargain.

That's great if you are looking for DIY. But if you want an out-of-the-box fixed-gear frame with track ends, higher BB clearance and no braze-ons, this gets you there without the personal labor costs. I work on my bikes all the time and love it. But the day is short and time is money. This comes with track cranks, dependable geometry for getting a straight chainline, etc.

I think it's a great deal. If the frame is your size, I'd have no qualms about buying it. Surly Steamrollers are far from terrible. True, they are not as light, but they are the swiss army knife of track frames. The price is worth it for the parts.

Surly Steamroller $400
Mavic Open Pro rims $120
(Surly rear hub, Shimano low-flange front hub) $100
Sugino 75 crank $150 minimum
(Shimano bb) , BB $30
Brooks B17 saddle $100?
(not sure what the seatpost was...nothing fancy)
ITM stem (one of the more low end)
Cane Creek headset (don't remember the model...it was late, I was tired)
decent bars (take a look at the picture in the link below)

Add it up. It would be $1000 build if you bought it all seperately

Surly Steamroller $400
Mavic Open Pro rims $120
(Surly rear hub, Shimano low-flange front hub) $100
Sugino 75 crank $150 minimum
(Shimano bb) , BB $30
Brooks B17 saddle $100?
(not sure what the seatpost was...nothing fancy)
ITM stem (one of the more low end)
Cane Creek headset (don't remember the model...it was late, I was tired)
decent bars (take a look at the picture in the link below)

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I think the "perfect" frame size for me would be 58 cm, if it actually existed for any of the frames in question (Mark V, Rush, Steamroller, etc.). I got my 59 cm Jamie Roy feeling reasonably comfortable with the seat all the way forward. I also have a Giant that is sized M (Giant is a real pain if you are 6'0" with long legs and short torso...allegedly they are/were going to do an M Long) that's a bit short in reach. I figure 56 cm will be pretty good with a 120 (maybe only 110, depending on where the seat is) stem and moving the seatpost up appropriately.

I think it's a fair price. Like what Schiek and Ira said, if it fits you and you dig it, the parts are certainly quite fair. Considering that people are selling stock Pistas or with small upgrades for this price or more, this is a much much better bet. Also consider that off-the-shelf frames are about $600 all done and told with much lesser componentry.

600$ Tops

based on what? unless you work a t a bike shop and get a 50% discount, you can't build it for that...

Is Belmont Wheelworks a shop?

yes.

ther ya go then
hommie gots to pass the savings
I hate it when shop people sell stuff like they paid retail for it

I can't disagree with your sentiment, Romoni. But even with his discount, things like Sugino 75s don't come cheap, especially these days with everyone hopping on the fixie bandwagon (I saw 2 Mark Vs in Central Square the other afternoon within a minute...aroo?!). Even if, by some miracle, he got 50% off on *everything*, I think that'd be about $600. He certainly is charging a lot less than I could build it for, and given the lower end estimate, it doesn't seem like any kind of rip-off. Great bargain, maybe not; good deal, probably so.

$700 is not much over cost. Certainly not %100 markup.

Capitalism isn't about how much you paid for it, it's about how much it's worth.

you gotta factor in the fact that its kind of a stylish build.... i mean.. it looks really nice i think....with well thought out parts...not an easy newb trick.. take advantage of that.... and a big boo to the guy who tells you to just convert... conversions are YAWNNNNN....ha..im sorry ... but they bore me to tears... just my humble lil opinion..

alright meng go for it
give him 800 bills then cause fixies are hoooooooot

Stop talking about it, run, ride, or walk briskly to your ATM, get the money, and buy it.

If you don't, I will.

Keep your grubby mitts off it! I'm going to give the guy a call and go pick it up tonight. Ride or die.

Actually, capitalism is about both. Microeconomics is about how much you can get for it, macroeconomics is about how much it cost to build.

But $700 isn't a bad price, I'm just not excited by Steamrollers. I too think you could buy a used bike off Craig's List and a really nice handbuilt track wheel and come out ahead.

The Steamroller frame is nothing track-like at all. In fact, it's more relaxed than many road frames you'll see on the showroom floor these days and the BB drop is pretty much exactly what you'll find on a road frame, 70mm. Something in the neighborhood of 60mm is more typical for a track frame.

Track-like wasn't a necessity. Once again, for the "cheap bike" argument, I already have a Jamie Roy that I got off eBay for a good price. Provided you don't have a hatred of aluminum, I think I already came out ahead with that purchase.

This is more of the "spoil myself" ride - looks nice, goes nice...it just works for me. The bottom bracket drop isn't much of an issue; on the rides where I'd really be out (trying) to rail corners with my roadie pals, I'd probably be rolling on the freewheel anyway. I'll admit, my form falls to ****e past 140 rpm (30+ on my current gearing). Feel free to call me a weenie - I wouldn't mind coasting down a hill every once in a while. This is the singlespeed *and* fixed gear forum, after all.

Nothing wrong with coasting if that's you thing. As some folks are aware, I even occassionally have a predilection for shifting. But Schiek was saying that the Steamroller has a higher BB and Ira referred to it as a track frame, neither is true. That's all I'm saying.

If you want it, get it, it's not a bad price. I just don't think there's anything special about a Steamroller frame that you couldn't get with a vintage roadie with decent fender & tire clearance plus all the eylets you need for mounting them and racks and whatnot.