Is it possible to build a bike for £150

KMC1993

So I have convinced my mother to get into cycling and do a century ride this time next year. Only problem is that she currently has a cheap mountain bike which weighs about the same as a car. We cant afford a brand new road bike so am looking at second hand. If I could pick up a frame for around £40-£50 would it be possible to source a groupset, wheels, handlebars and seat post all for £100 or am I being unrealistic?

Buckie2k5

get another 100 quid and buy a new triban or decent 2nd hand.

chris_bass

You could but it would be old and not very good!

It's always cheaper to buy a complete bike than make on, i'd look for a second hand bike.

pastey_boy

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5251.html?id=dPZJabV2

Anonymous

pastey_boy wrote:

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5251.html?id=dPZJabV2

Why is it called a 'Jetstream'?

Just plain 'Stream' would be a better name, or 'Atthebottomofastream' would be perfect as thats where it will end up

Why would the OP buy another stupidly heavy bike for his mother? Yet alone one with a 52/42 chain set :shock:

davidtalbot

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Btwin-Triban- ... 2c719566e7

Not my auction but about as good it gets in low cost road bikes (and a fantastic bike even for the £299 new price)

pastey_boy

Carbonator wrote:

pastey_boy wrote:

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5251.html?id=dPZJabV2

Why is it called a 'Jetstream'?

Just plain 'Stream' would be a better name, or 'Atthebottomofastream' would be perfect as thats where it will end up

Why would the OP buy another stupidly heavy bike for his mother? Yet alone one with a 52/42 chain set :shock:

It's either something like this or one or those lightweight £150 bikes you must know about.

Anonymous

pastey_boy wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

pastey_boy wrote:

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5251.html?id=dPZJabV2

Why is it called a 'Jetstream'?

Just plain 'Stream' would be a better name, or 'Atthebottomofastream' would be perfect as thats where it will end up

Why would the OP buy another stupidly heavy bike for his mother? Yet alone one with a 52/42 chain set :shock:

It's either something like this or one or those lightweight £1500 bikes you must know about.

Yep, I think he should treat his mum. Putting her on the Viking for 100 miles is parent cruelty.

Triban is the best bet unless secondhand one pops up.
£150 just does not buy a 100 mile road bike. Especially for a beginner.

chris_bass

davidtalbot wrote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Btwin-Triban-3-Road-Bike-60-cm-frame-/190884177639?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2c719566e7

Not my auction but about as good it gets in low cost road bikes (and a fantastic bike even for the £299 new price)

I fear unless his mum used to be his dad at 60cm frame size that may be a touch on the enormous size!

pastey_boy

The fact is, there is not a lot of choice for £150 when it comes to road bikes, its either a nasty Viking type bike or a second hand 20 year old Raleigh/Peugeot/Emmelle.

Anonymous

Chris Bass wrote:

davidtalbot wrote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Btwin-Triban-3-Road-Bike-60-cm-frame-/190884177639?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2c719566e7

Not my auction but about as good it gets in low cost road bikes (and a fantastic bike even for the £299 new price)

I fear unless his mum used to be his dad at 60cm frame size that may be a touch on the enormous size!

Was thinking similar but did not want to moan about everyones unrealistic suggestions.

If a Triban was in the right size on ebay it would probably sell for as much as to be better to buy a new one.
The risk of it being worn out and chances of it being local are just not worth the small saving.

Its the most popular (only) decent £300 bike so they are not going to go for £150.

chris_bass

Carbonator wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

davidtalbot wrote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Btwin-Triban-3-Road-Bike-60-cm-frame-/190884177639?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2c719566e7

Not my auction but about as good it gets in low cost road bikes (and a fantastic bike even for the £299 new price)

I fear unless his mum used to be his dad at 60cm frame size that may be a touch on the enormous size!

Was thinking similar but did not want to moan about everyones unrealistic suggestions.

If a Triban was in the right size on ebay it would probably sell for as much as to be better to buy a new one.
The risk of it being worn out and chances of it being local are just not worth the small saving.

Its the most popular (only) decent £300 bike so they are not going to go for £150.

i've seen people trying to sell triban 3's for £500!! I'm pleased to say they failed! but second hand they tend to go for pretty much £300.

Merlin bikes seem pretty decent for around the £300 mark.

KMC1993

Thanks for the reply's. Looks like I will need to save up a bit then.

Hawmaw

Occasional gems come up on local Gumtree if you are fast.

I bought a '99 Gios Lite equiped with 105 for £180. It weighed in at 10kg , rode well and attracted loads of attention.
So it is still possible to find decent cheap bikes.

rolf_f

Chris Bass wrote:

You could but it would be old and not very good!

£150 can get you a very good old bike - no problem finding full 531 framed bikes at that price. The drawback is that you certainly would have to budget for unforseen repairs. To get one for £150 and not need to spend a penny on it is going to rely on some degree of luck but it can work out.

gpreeves

My friend picked up a late 90s Bianchi with Veloce groupset on Ebay for a little over £150 last year. When I bought my first road bike a few years ago, I picked up a 3 year old Halford's Carrera for under £100 on Ebay, I still use it now as my winter bike.

It is possible to get a road bike cheaply, but as other people have mentioned, it will probably be cheaper to buy as a whole rather than to build yourself.

chris_bass

Rolf F wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

You could but it would be old and not very good!

£150 can get you a very good old bike - no problem finding full 531 framed bikes at that price. The drawback is that you certainly would have to budget for unforseen repairs. To get one for £150 and not need to spend a penny on it is going to rely on some degree of luck but it can work out.

I meant you wouldnt be able to build a very good bike for £150 not you couldnt buy one.