So which do you think is better,

BTW the poll is ^ up there.....

the Builds - in the lead, 3-nil

now, four

HELL YES!

I haven't seen one yet that I wanted as it came off the rack. Until I can buy and build an Olympic I'll keep building my conversions.

Even though I've made some changes, The Pista rocks! In my mind, I own the sexiest bike in the world.

Shiny!

quiet you. re-vote when you are no longer medicated.

Cycling: 49% building and tinkering, 51% riding.

11:1 in favor of building now. Where's the pride and fun in buying it whole?

12 to 1, now. None of my homebrewed monstrosities are available on showroom floors.

Buy if you can't afford to build.

If you've got the frame/wheels/fork/bars/crank/something that inspires a project, then build. You'll learn more.

well...you have to usually BUY the stuff before you can build, so...it's really a mixture of the two isn't it? pah, i know what this poll is about, i was just being smarmy.

i don't know of any track bikes that come off the rack with phil woods laced to open pros, with old school dura ace road cranks and cinelli pista bars, so i'd have to go with build it my damn self!

Off-the-shelf is for LOOOO-SEH-HERRRRZZZZZ :)

Hey, until I can find custom built chrome track frame for dirt cheap, the Pista is the way to go. I know it's counter to what most people in here think. However, I've spent a lot of time and a little money on an "off-the-shelf" bike to make it perfect, and it's payed off. No regrets here.

As a side note, my next project (a *gasp* road bike) is going to be a custom frame, with handpicked components. Because sometimes Thylacine's exactly right. :p

I would say it depends on the situation-- if you get a good deal on a production bike i would say go for it.

Like this for example(at $400)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...679734213&rd=1

Or this is sweet:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...681217205&rd=1

Or this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

I voted to build. Whether or not it's a complete custom build purchased part by part, or it's a converted roadie to fixed, it's all about the experience.

I bought, now I'm building. I love my Pista (even tho its not as shiny as torrins) but I've had an itch to build up a more uniqie bike. It all depends on how choosy you are, how much you want to spend, how much time you have, and what will make you happy when you're riding it.

Where's the fun in buying off of the shelf? It may (or may not depending how much crap you have lying around) be more costly initially to build your own however you learn the skills to repair it. As a result you don't have to waste your time and money going to the LBS and paying them to do it.

I think we need more accurate poll with more options :

1) Build it - give me dirt and a rubber tree!!!
2) Build it - give me lugs, tubes and I'm good.
3) Build it - give me a frame/old road bike, and I can take everything off that frame that just went under the SUV.
4) Build it - give me a cheap road frame, and I'll unbuild it into a fix.
5) Build it - get custom frame in the mail and put EXACTLY what I want on it.

6) Buy it - riding fixed/single is cool, and my LBS told me this is what I want.
7) Buy it - saw it on Ebay/LBS/anywhere, made me drool, had to be MINE!!!!
8) Buy it - was cheap, knew those Campy cranks in my closet would look perfect.
9) Buy it - but then get bored/agitated with stuff on it, then start building new stuff into it.
10) Buy it - buddy needed to make rent and really didn't want to sell. Can't build because they'll probably try to buy it back..... Someday.

There's just too many different ways to make SS/Fixes - maybe it's just the geek in me, but I like a little bit more data....

Probably those shouldn't be the final ?s, just my initial thoughts... maybe there should be a couple of polls for both buy and build to find out what the questions should be.

Should be obvious by now I didn't want to cross-post, and I'm not really sure how to post a poll anyways :)

Buyers are wimps...


OK, just kidding, sort of.

Did you mean to call them pooosiees? Build it, learn more, save $$. Of course some people don't have the time, inclination, tools to do it so they buy. No problem there.

A lot of you have mentioned learning as motivation for building instead of buying. I'm not trying to cop a superiority complex here, but I didn't need to 'learn' about bike repair. I needed to get to school. Anyway, with my background, bicycle repair comes pretty naturally. While I've built a few bikes now, some fixed, some not, I still use my off the shelf Pista (with some changes) as a commuter.

What matters most is that you're happy with what you're riding.

Thanks, Jim Brady. Now the whole bunch is happy, including little Cindy.



Sure you are, or you wouldn't be writing this.

Damn you Skitbra!!! You can't bait me!!!

It's Mike Brady. Jim Brady (or James) was the Reaganite who was caught in the line of fire during the Reagan assassination attempt who has now become a figurehead for gun control.

and the score is 41-6, Builds.