Best value parts to put on a custom frame

comedylegs

I'm a tall fella with very long legs (101 cm/40 inches crotch-to-floor - NOT a typo!) looking for a first road bike, and struggling. I've tried a couple of the largest 'off the peg' bikes (including the Trek 1.5 64cm) and it's not really big enough. Rather then spend £850 on something imperfect I'm considering a custom-built steel frameset (available for around £600), a set of 'proportional' 215mm custom cranks (£300-ish) and then buying a decent entry-level bike and transferring the other components.

So, I'd appreciate any advice on which sub-£500 road bikes have the best components relative to their cost. The Decathlon Triban 3 looks good value at £300 and, to offset the cost, I might be able to sell on the frame, given its glittering reviews. Any other suggestions or advice to this novice?

desweller

Are you going to do the work yourself (it's not that hard and puts you in a good position for maintaining it later on)? If so, your best bet is to be patient and scour the classifieds (and possibly eBay, although the bargains are fewer and further between on there) for the parts.

wellbeloved747

IF you want good quality, id go for a full Shimano 105 groupset. with a set of Shimano wheels.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=54893
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=76730

desweller

wellbeloved747 wrote:

IF you want good quality, id go for a full Shimano 105 groupset. with a set of Shimano wheels.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=54893
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=76730

That group is discontinued.

wellbeloved747

DesWeller wrote:

That group is discontinued.

Im so tired

Tiagra
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... er=froogle

or pay more for 105 5700
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/r ... +Road+Bike

comedylegs

Thanks for your replies. I'll let a pro put it together. I have a budget of around £500 for everything else. Is that realistic if I buy the parts separately? I'm happy to compromise on the quality of some components for now, so I was thinking that taking all the other parts off an existing bike would be a good-value and relatively quick way of getting on the road. Cheers.

mitchgixer6

If you're getting a mechanic to do the work then I think you'd be cheaper just to buy a groupset rather than buying a second bike and taking bits off it. You'd need to pay the mechanic to dismantle the other bike first, then build onto you custom bike. That would add extra unneeded cost to the project.