I have been tossing around the idea of doing my own winter build for fun. Nothing fancy I just haven't actually built my own, and I'd really like to give it a shot. Ideally I'd just like to take some of the parts I have laying around and picking up things as I go to fill in the gaps. I wouldn't even be upset if I didn't finish it before the end of the winter, you know just something to entertain me during the ****tiest season of the year.

The one main thing that's really stopping me is finding a frame. I'd like a cheapish frame, which leads me to say I have been eye balling a pake frame... Now I have checked out the kilo tt, and even the leader 722 but the price of both is just a bit more than I am willing to spend. please note I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE WEIGHT. quite in the fact I like a little meat on my girls what can I say.

So what I'm wondering is are there any other simple non expensive frames that I should look into? I would say go easy on me but rip away

nashbar touring frame

swobo dixon

used anything

whatever. if the 722 AND the kilo are too pricey for you, you're not going to find any fixed specific worth your money.

what you need is tire clearance and neither of those are very good for that.

I roll 23's year round on my fixed commuter.

okay, then what you need is fender clearance.

Well I guess I should say it's not that the kilo and the leader are TOO pricey, I guess I'm just drawn the cheapness of the pake. And again this isn't any plan set in stone I'm just entertaining the thought right now. And I have been dickin around on ebay' I'm just looking for a decent deal.

the unbranded pake from crosslake sales is probably the best bang for the buck, and it will barely fit 23c fenders. but seriously, the more clearance the better.

I'm not planning putting fenders on, I'm not even sure where that even came from. But am I wrong to assume then my already existing 23c will fit as it says it has 28c clearance. ( I'm not even going to attempt that pretend I have any clue what I'm talking about )

23 is smaller than 28, as the numerical denotation would imply.

however, the idea of having a winter commuter without fenders or wide tires basically means you have a commuter you don't mind getting dirty. you don't need fenders or wide tires, but why you'd elect to not have them on a bike you make for use in the winter is beyond me.

this. CL is your friend. find the cheapest bike that fits you with horizontal dropouts and required tire clearance. its for the winter.


i repeat - its for the winter. if you are riding in the snow and salt, dont waste money on it.

@cc700 & 91MF - I think the op didn't say he wanted to build a winter bike but a bike to build during the winter just for yuks and to stay entertained while cooped up indoors. The bike could end up being anything, even something with no utility whatsoever. As such, offering our advice is a total waste of time.

This.

i can see clearly now, the rain is gone...

The unbranded Pake from Crosslakes has treated me extraordinarily well. It's a good thing you don't care about weight too, she's a hefty broad, she is.

Eighthinch Scrambler? They're now $20 cheaper than whatever they cost before...

700C wheels in an MTB frame...no brakes...cheap

Conversions make perfect winter projects. Craigslist away.

Speaking of Crosslake, they have a steep-mothereffing frame in stock for ~$128.

https://cgi.ebay.com/53cm-Track-Bike-...item1e5ff337ab

I run neither, I must be

Buying something complete on CL used would be your best economical choice and at the same time the least fun. Building a bike can be quite difficult, and it involves buying things like a headset presser, star nut driver, BB tools, chainbreakers, and much more. Not a bad thing if you intend on using them in the future.

You can make a headset press by using a big long bolt, nut and two large washers. I've been using mine for years and even though I now own a proper headset press, I still bust it out from time to time because I find it easier to use. Tapping in a star nut (assuming your bike will be threadless) is something any lbs should be able to do while you wait for a few bucks.

I've used a hammer and a seatpost to pound in a star nut before and it was fine.

Before I had a starnut tap, I used a piece of a wooden dowel.

Makeshift tools ftw.

I actually just came across a threaded frame set on CL, waiting to hear back, also I had already researched on making a headset press.
I'm pretty mechanically minded that i'm certain I could handle building one myself.
We'll see what happens!

a home made headset press is an easy to use and make tool, I'm sure you'll be fine. Just take you'll time and make sure the cups go in straight.