Building up a bike

djhermer
djhermer Posts: 328
edited November 2012 in Workshop
Can anyone recommend a decent book (preferably) or website to take one through the stages of building a bike from scratch?

My bike maintenance is fairly average and has never really gone further than necessary (chain, cassette, tyres and tubes...), but i fancy a winter project.

Following a recent accident I have bought a new bike with the insurance money, but have salvaged most of the previous bike bar the frame, bars and front wheel. So rather than store it or sell it i figured i may as well build myself a spare...

Any suggestions for a good guide??

Much appreciated.

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Park tools website is good. They also do a book called the big blue book of cycle repair. The best way is for someone to show you how though.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • Wooliferkins
    Wooliferkins Posts: 2,060
    Barnetts. It has everything and then some. Somebody seems to have uploaded a copy here Download it quick it's v pricey to buy
    Neil
    Help I'm Being Oppressed
  • fivethirtyonepm
    fivethirtyonepm Posts: 165
    i wouldn't bother with books... as has already been said on here, parktools website is great.

    i taught myself to build bikes using the internet. i spent many an evening in the kitchen with a laptop pc googling various things.

    spend the money on some tools such as:-

    cable cutter - can't recommend these highly enough!
    third hand tool (for brakes)
    cassette tool
    chain whip
    bb tool
    pliers
    scalpel
    wrench (useful for the cassette tool)
    ball-ended allen keys
    chainring bolt tool (fits into the back of the bolts)
    track pump
    really good set of tyre levers
    workstand

    with that little lot, you can do pretty much anything apart from installing headsets (which are usually best left to a bike shop).
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Generally agree with that list except the 3rd hand tool.

    Useless and completely unneccesary item IMO.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • fivethirtyonepm
    fivethirtyonepm Posts: 165
    smidsy wrote:
    Generally agree with that list except the 3rd hand tool.

    Useless and completely unneccesary item IMO.

    i've built plenty of bikes without a 3rd hand tool, but since getting one, setting up the brake calipers has become soooooooooo much easier. obviously, you can do pretty much the same with a ziptie or a toestrap, but where's the fun in that!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    All you need is access to the interweb. Park Tools / Sheldon Brown / Youtube are your friends.

    The only tricky bits may be installing the headset, depending on type, and I gather some kinds of Campagnolo BB bearings can be a bit of a faff.

    Don't buy a toolkit, just buy the things you actually need

    Take your time and enjoy it!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Wooliferkins wrote:
    Barnetts. It has everything and then some. Somebody seems to have uploaded a copy here Download it quick it's v pricey to buy

    Oops! I seem to have a copy on my desktop. Bit of light reading for lunchtime :D
  • gloomyandy
    gloomyandy Posts: 520
    If you plan on building with any carbon components you may want to get a torque wrench as well. Oh and some carbon paste.

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