Building a bike piece by piece!

[Raine 1.0]

Hi Guys,

 

I am interested in having a new mountain bike by next summer but I am interested in building it myself over the next 6 months. I don't have the cash to fork out for a brand new bike in one go, so I am interested in finding out how to go about building it slowly but surely.

 

I know it might cost more at the end of the day, but it might just be more enjoyable too!

 

Some basic info i am looking for is:

 

- Which brands sell frames, wheelsets, etc individually?

- Which suppliers are the best/fastest/cheapest for components?

- What are the best ways to go about this?

- Etc Etc...

 

Any information will be helpful!

 

I'm sure this topic has appeared before but there are just way too many topics/threads etc here to filter out the info!

 

I look forward to hearing what can be done!

 

Thanks,

 

Raine

[Robrider]

Hi,

 

It will definitely cost you more, but if you still want to go ahead, I agree, it is fun and you learn a lot about your bike. Also you can customize it to a certain extent.

 

If it were me I would look for a mix of new and second hand. There are great deal on the hub. Then for the new stuff, I would look online, chain reaction cycles (uk), chris wilemse cycles (cpt) and a few others that I'm sure people will mention.

 

Have fun, shop around, get the best prices.

 

I would start with frame, fork and wheels. That is the heart of any bike, and will depend on what type of riding you want to do.

[Thumper]

If youre looking for a frame drop Nagala a PM. He brings in the Chumba frames and can also sort you out with forks, components etc. Wicked pricing!

 

then

 

go make very good friends with www.chainreactioncycles.com not forgetting to check out www.cwcycles.co.za and www.buycycle.co.za

[Raine 1.0]

Hi Robrider,

 

Thanks for the tips - already a massive help!

 

Cheers

[Hairy]

Hi Raine

 

Are you the Raine working for a events / musicians company in CT (Where your offices were recently extended) ... if so let me know and I can give you a call directly.

 

H

[CAAD4]

Raine as far as components go you can get good deals here on used stuff that is still in great nick and thereby save a lot of money. I built up a 29er last year from bits and pieces that I had and also bought on the Hub. You need to decide what kind of bike you are after i.e. XC, Trail etc. and need to be sure of your size too, otherwise it could become expensive. Make a list of the parts that you need and start watching the classifieds here for deals. Use the internet as your referecne to compare pricing of new vs. used. Sometimes new is not too much more. Good luck.

[Just Keep Pedaling]

I did the same thing last year. I bought almost everything on Chainreaction - go for the 2 year old clearance stock (normally marked down more than 30%). They also have a Christmas sale where everything is 10% off.

 

Some specific advice to follow:

[Raine 1.0]

Thanks guys....finding a nice pattern here which helps!

[Just Keep Pedaling]

First questions:

 

1. How much do you weigh and how tall are you?

2. Are you competitive?

3. How much do you have to spend?

[Raine 1.0]

JKP...

 

1) 83kg & 1.86m

2) Would like to think so - always looking to improve

3) Difficult to say. It won't matter too much if i'm building the bike over time, but not aiming for the stars here.

[Top Fuel]

To add to the above..

Why type of riding do you want to do on it? If you want a race specific bike then it is different to a free ride bike. If you want a downhill bike it is different to a XC bike. Think you get my point. If you put the type of riding you want to do I have no doubt you will get better ideas from people here. By the looks of it you juts want to build a decent XC bike. As has been said your most important decisions here are frame, fork (probably 120mm) and wheels. That is my 2c and I don't need any change.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Top Fuel

[Raine 1.0]

Hi Top Fuel...

 

Yip you're correct, i'm looking to build a really decent XC bike!

 

I've started by pulling bike comparisons with all the component specs etc so I can find a baseline to work from.

[Top Fuel]

That's it then. Lots of guys sell frames here. Go to a few bike shops and leave your name if guys go in there trying to sell their frames. Make sure you are specific about the travel. Some frames can go 100-120mm without too much hassle. Good guys to speak to are Lance from Epic bike shop, the guys at Crown Cycles I think his name is Mark. Otherwise keep posting your questions and I am sure people will help you. Take your time on the frame and fork. They are going to be the biggest part of your riding and once you have them you must be happy with them no matter what anyone says. I recently did my first complete bike build and I am very happy with it. (Bulls 29er) One more thing.. forget about your budget right now. You are going to over shoot it. That is not negotiable.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Top Fuel

[Tankman]

Luckily you are giving yourself time but remember to take your time.

It is very satisfying building your own bike and you learn a hell of a lot a long the way ... with a couple of headbutts but that is all part of the process.

 

Start with the frame and work from there.

You will quickly learn that not all parts will fit on the frame, diameters are different, small things are missing and youll probably get stuck a couple of times... just another opportunity to sharpen you knowledge!

 

Have Fun!

[kosmonooit]

Yes, not the cheapest way but certainly the most rewarding.

 

I've built up 3x bikes from frames sourced here plus a rebuild of a Scalpel I had. Mostly new bits from CRC, a few used and new from e-bay which could not be found elsewhere (like Lefty forks), also from places like UK Bike Store and Bike Inn in Spain. Not that much luck in sourcing bits from the hub, but I have been going for very specific components.

 

If you need to know how anything works or how its put together or setup, manufacturers webs sites are a good start, also there is loads on yOutube.

[Just Keep Pedaling]

Frame: If there is any one component I would consider getting second hand it is the frame. This applies to aluminium frames and not carbon frames. Watch the frames that come on sale here on the hub.

 

You have to make some more decisions here:

 

1. 29er or 26inch wheels? Frames can only take one type. There are a thousand threads on the internet debating this. 29ers are hot at the moment so there will be a shortage of second hand 29er frames so this will drive the cost up.

 

2. Do you want rear suspension? This drives up the cost considerably but if you do really long rides (or multiday rides) or are not fit enough to have your legs bear your weight the whole ride - then you want a dual suspension.

 

3. Geometry - agressive geometry is faster but less comfortable. You will find yourself sitting forward. Relaxed geometry is less power in pedaling but more comfortable and easier to negotiate technical sections. Relaxed geometry bikes are often called trail bikes as apposed to XC bikes.