Can I do it myself, is it worth it?
 

I’m building a fixed on a Soma Rush frame. I have no experience building bikes. What can I do myself? What should my LBS do? Are there good resources to learn how to assemble my bike? Once I get it right chances are I won’t mess with it just put lots of miles on it. Is it worth learning for just one bike or should I just use my LBS and be happy?

Thanks

you can do it. i'd get your lbs to put a headset in, and if you can i'd have someone experienced give it a good once over before you do any serious riding.

honestly most of it is easy. grease everything.

i watched my friend do mine, but after watching I'm pretty sure i could do it myself.
I'm not what you would call "mechanically inclined" either.
Just check the net and ask a buddy for the stuff that doesn't make sense.

Maybe your bike shop will help you or teach you how to build up a bike, if not, you can ask somebody you know, or search the forums here. I wouldn't just jump in without any help/knowledge, but I would have the bike shop do it all either.

I think it's more a question of: Do you want to? And do you have any mechanical ability to start at all?

A minimal mechanical/tool knowledge and a little outside help will probably get everything but wheels and headsets done.

There are tons of how-tos on the cyberweb. And a lot of cities have resources/places to get shop help these days. And bug the **** out of your friends.

This is one of them. But check out the mechanics sub-forum as well.

If you do do it yourself this is just not how it will go. You'll keep finding nicer bits here and there, and it will be so much fun to put them on your bike and try them out, and hey, I put that BB together way better than the last time! Then you'll stumble across a dirt cheap frame, and hey, I need some **** to make this thing go, and so you stumble across the bits, and oh, that's how you adjust a headset, well I better re-do my Soma too! It doesn't end, n+1 and all that.
Do it your self. If you're unsure of anything get a friend or a shop to check it out, don't kill yourself because you read on the nets that it was done like this, and even though it feels unsafe, I did it like it said to on the nets. It's totally worth riding a bike that you built yourself.

do it urself = fun might lead to frustration,end result satisfaction.
LBS = not fun but less frustration, end result not as satisfy as do it urself

Are u good at spanner and hex key?? If so give it a go :D Oh do u have bike tools?

man the rush comes in white now @_@

+1

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

most of the reason that i ride a fixed gear is that i was able to build it myself. It's pretty easy, and it's nice to have a bike that is more than just yours.

Congratulations on an excellent bicycle choice and best of luck for a successful session building it up! Your new Soma Rush will give you lots of great miles.



:beer:

Do the stuff that requires no new tools, or cheap tools. Things that could be a disaster
if done wrong should be left to the LBS- IMO steering tube cutting is the #1 thing on this list.

You should try to do it yourself for the value of assembling your own bicycle.
I agree with what has been said regarding the LBS pressing in the headset. Leave the steerer tube long (if it is threadless) and see if you can safely ride it trying out different stem positions and heights, then get it cut a little longer...you can always cut more off later. You may also need the LBS to hammer in the star-nut depending on what steerer you have.

Also, have the LBS chase the threads on the BB, and depending on the BB you are using you may need one of both sides of the BB shell re-faced (unless it is faces already from the factory).

good luck man. get that bike rolling!!!

Building up my 'cross bike greatly increased my knowledge of bike mechanics. I had the headset cups pressed in and the steerer tube cut. Oh and a spoke replaced. Other than that I put it all together.

Sheldon Brown's site was invaluable, especially when it came to adjusting my derailer.

Find your local bike co-op if you have one and build it up there. It will be much cheaper and you will learn how to do it without buying all the tools upfront.

http://bikebike.okcancel.org/BOOP/boop.pdf

Click the link for the directory of co-ops.