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Building Advice

marpickmarpick Posts: 49
edited November 2014 in Road buying advice
So, thinking of building a bike from scratch with Sram Red as an example of the type of components I'd like to use. Any suggestions as to frame and other parts? Currently ride an Roubaix Sport Compact so it would need to be an 'upgrade' on that!

Over to you guys/gals!

Posts

  • sloppyschleckondssloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    If building from scratch, working with different types of frame material would be important. Have you worked with steel, aluminium, titanium or carbon before?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • arlowoodarlowood Posts: 2,561
    Couple of candidates from Genesis and Kinesis if you fancy going down the Ti route

    http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/fra ... librium-ti

    http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/racelight/gf-ti

    These would be an upgrade on your Roubaix Sport IMHO
  • imposter2.0imposter2.0 Posts: 12,015
    No indication of budget, no indication of riding preferences...
  • smoggystevesmoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Imposter wrote:
    No indication of budget, no indication of riding preferences...

    +1

    I would think that anyone building a bike would pick the frame first then consider the components to put on it. If its this way around because you already have the groupset the only consideration is the type of bottom bracket you need. As the Roubaix is already a top frame (in the top 5 in its class) why not just build around that? If you put Sram red and a decent set of wheels on it it would become a very different animal to what it currently is.
  • cattytowncattytown Posts: 647
    For budget, the specification of Sram Red puts it into whatever we fancy suggesting. More pressing is omission of riding preferences.

    That said, If Ti appeals, I would be looking at Spin and Burls.

    P.
    Giant Defy 2
    Large bloke getting smaller :-)
  • dwanesdwanes Posts: 954
    How about this http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Colnag ... AJ5?wmp=43

    Seriously Marpick get a grip and give us some idea of your budget and your type of riding, and material preference, otherwise you just come across as a time-waster.
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    Personally I prefer Shimano to SRAM - so I'm already at odds with you.

    TBH - theres not much point in building your own bike now - its almost always cheaper to get an off the shelf package unless you're really fussy - and you can't be if you're asking us to spec it for you.
  • marpickmarpick Posts: 49
    cougie wrote:
    Personally I prefer Shimano to SRAM - so I'm already at odds with you.

    TBH - theres not much point in building your own bike now - its almost always cheaper to get an off the shelf package unless you're really fussy - and you can't be if you're asking us to spec it for you.

    Take your point cougie, quoting Sram Red was, as I said, an indication of what level of components I'm scoping, may well be best to take your route and the other option of upgrading my current frame in time, ride mainly sportives and I willingly spend on quality. Budget would be c.3k to get started with a gradual build as additional funds allowed.

    For others, I haven't posted on here to waste people's time if that's the concensus, just input and advice from those with knowledge and experience, if anyone thinks that's not the case then feel equally free not to contribute.
  • dinyulldinyull Posts: 2,979
    If you want to build a bike from scratch you need to know what you want from it (aero, lightweight) and pick and choose wheels, finishing kit to match. Also, as Red is top end and is just over £1k, you won't get top end frame, wheels and finishing kit for £2k.

    From what you've given us you'd be better getting yourself off to LBS and get the bike you like the look of most for £3k.
  • cattytowncattytown Posts: 647
    I don't get this "There's no point building your own" line that gets trotted out. Sure if you want a standard bike, with someone else's choice of components and compromises at a lower price than you can buy the components for you are right. But when you buy off the peg, and then look to put different wheels on, and a different set of bars as while the supplied ones are good and light, they don't suit your hands, or worse, you like the shape, but the factory set 440mm, but you really get on better with 400, then that saddle...

    Building your own bike is the point of building your own. You get to spec what you want. You want the full groupset avoiding Tektro brakes and FSA Chainset? No problem. Really like 3T ergonova bars? Fine. Want 165mm cranks? Go for it. Archetypes on Ultegra? knock yourself out.

    In a way with a budget of 3K, I don't see the point of off the shelf - you should be getting what *YOU* *REALLY* want. No compromises that you are not happy with.

    I would expect to select the frame first though...

    Paul.
    Giant Defy 2
    Large bloke getting smaller :-)
  • ascurrellascurrell Posts: 1,739
    cattytown wrote:
    I don't get this "There's no point building your own" line that gets trotted out. Sure if you want a standard bike, with someone else's choice of components and compromises at a lower price than you can buy the components for you are right. But when you buy off the peg, and then look to put different wheels on, and a different set of bars as while the supplied ones are good and light, they don't suit your hands, or worse, you like the shape, but the factory set 440mm, but you really get on better with 400, then that saddle...

    Building your own bike is the point of building your own. You get to spec what you want. You want the full groupset avoiding Tektro brakes and FSA Chainset? No problem. Really like 3T ergonova bars? Fine. Want 165mm cranks? Go for it. Archetypes on Ultegra? knock yourself out.

    In a way with a budget of 3K, I don't see the point of off the shelf - you should be getting what *YOU* *REALLY* want. No compromises that you are not happy with.

    I would expect to select the frame first though...

    Paul.

    +1 I agree, you can build your own bike to your chosen spec [budget allowing]. And end up with a better package.

    To be honest I find off the peg bike reviews a bit frustrating sometimes as you often read they are ready for 'upgrading' especially parts like wheels, so really you can add a lot of money onto the price they are reviewed at.
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    For £3000, how about this:

    £1600 frame and groupset:
    http://www.cycledivision.co.uk/product- ... id360.html
    These wheels £511:
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handbuilt-Bla ... 6fe083afaf
    Fizik Antares manganese rails £60
    Bar + Stem + Seat Post +bar tape £200
    Tyre + inner tubes (Michelin pro 4) £50

    Comes in less than £2500
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Dinyull wrote:
    If you want to build a bike from scratch you need to know what you want from it (aero, lightweight) and pick and choose wheels, finishing kit to match. Also, as Red is top end and is just over £1k, you won't get top end frame, wheels and finishing kit for £2k.

    From what you've given us you'd be better getting yourself off to LBS and get the bike you like the look of most for £3k.

    Are you sure?
    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m6b0s25p53 ... -FORK-2013

    Although I would probably go SRAM force or Ultegra to free up the budget.
  • dinyulldinyull Posts: 2,979
    So, £1500 for frame, £1100 for groupo...what top end wheels and top end finishing kit you going to get for £400?
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    get the whole 2013 bike with Red for less.

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b65s6p51 ... ACING-2013
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    11sp here for sub 3K

    http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... 14-p228574
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Dinyull wrote:
    So, £1500 for frame, £1100 for groupo...what top end wheels and top end finishing kit you going to get for £400?

    Off the peg you can't get a top frame, wheels and group set for £3000 there is compromise somewhere. Personally I would swop out the SRAM RED for Force for a custom build - for a significant saving over minor performance benefit.

    Or buy this:
    http://www.cycledivision.co.uk/product- ... id360.html
    Sell the Ultegra groupset for £700.

    You have £2100 for SRAM RED etc.
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    coriordan wrote:
    get the whole 2013 bike with Red for less.

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b65s6p51 ... ACING-2013

    Admittedly this is hard to beat (I have posted this link before on other threads) - for a custom build. However, saying that I got lucky I managed to get a new HIMOD EVO from Epic cycles which they custom built with SRAM FORCE and MAVIC Kysrium SLS for £2100. I kept the SRAM force and got rid of the Mavics.
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    How about this with a classy steel frame:

    http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-fo ... tAodiCMACw

    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-gro ... lsrc=aw.ds

    The group set would be £900 if I used my discount voucher.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handbuilt-Bla ... 6fe083afaf

    This leaves £800 for finishing kit.
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    cattytown wrote:
    I don't get this "There's no point building your own" line that gets trotted out. Sure if you want a standard bike, with someone else's choice of components and compromises at a lower price than you can buy the components for you are right. But when you buy off the peg, and then look to put different wheels on, and a different set of bars as while the supplied ones are good and light, they don't suit your hands, or worse, you like the shape, but the factory set 440mm, but you really get on better with 400, then that saddle...

    Building your own bike is the point of building your own. You get to spec what you want. You want the full groupset avoiding Tektro brakes and FSA Chainset? No problem. Really like 3T ergonova bars? Fine. Want 165mm cranks? Go for it. Archetypes on Ultegra? knock yourself out.

    In a way with a budget of 3K, I don't see the point of off the shelf - you should be getting what *YOU* *REALLY* want. No compromises that you are not happy with.

    I would expect to select the frame first though...

    Paul.

    In the olden days we did used to build our own bikes - you'd have a lovely custom steel frame and then pick and choose what you wanted to go on it - brakes and gears and chainset all from different manufacturers if you wanted.

    Nowadays the big names have really nailed it down though - you can't really beat Shimano DA kit - so I'd just whack that on, or Ultegra on a budget.

    As to bars and stem and things - maybe I'm not as picky as I was back in the day. Most companies give you some leeway when ordering a bike so you'll get the right length stem and width bars etc. I've tried all sorts of crank length too. Doesn't make any noticeable difference to me.

    Entirely up to the OP though what he wants to do - its quite nice having your dream bike - but once its built up - it might not live up to the dream.
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