How do you start a build?

[el chico ingles]

Hi first of all I would like to say hi, my first post have been a watching topics and buying stuff

the other day after dreaming what to build and rushing home to sort the shed, it came to me that I have 2 builds on the go!, with not really meaning to, as in I decided on a frame then built my first (not ready yet)build but after changing mind after buying stuff im nearly there on another, just need a frame

so do fellow retro bikers get frame first then source bits or source bits in with an idea on a build????

and im always in twominds on how to build them...hmmmmm more dreaming me thinks

 

[lewis1641]

I always start with a frame or full bike. I can't help thinking that if i bought a load of bits first you'd be making frame choice a difficult one. Not only does it need to be something that you like but it has to have the right size bottom bracket, seat tube headset etc. Unless you are buying the stuff knowing what frame you want but that's pretty much the same as having the frame first. Also, without the frame first you have nothing to fit all your lovely retro bits onto and they end up in a cupboard! Welcome to the site by the way

 

[Scrat]

I collect bits, casually group them together, and keep my eye out for other bits that will go with them

eventually a frame that suits will show itself, and then you have to hunt for the last few remaining pieces to make it perfect! thats the fun bit

 

[el chico ingles]

I have the frame a kona sex too from 1996, but i was going to build how i would have done as a 14 year old, short stem riser bars those shimano dx pedals etc

so i got the dx pedals and some xtr bits but then i was looking at pics of bike how it looked from new and thought hmmm il build it how it looked as oringinal

so got lx cranks, xt rear mech some gripshift xrays I had indy sl forks at my mums which i got at xmas, i have also got xt v brake levers and calipers have wtb bars stem seatpost saddle so just need some wheels, but now because of the change of mind i have xtr bits v brakes rm fm pods

dont want to sell them as il want them in future, also got from loads of curve cantis from a mate and other nice bits so could nearly build another.....hmmmm

 

[racedoctor]

I really want to start a new build. Just waiting round for a nice/ good but cheap frame to present itself before I let myself look for anything else. The only thing I have already got are my old wheels I recently replaced - these have blue rims so thats the basis for the whole build at the moment

 

[mikee]

ahhh the self perpetuating madness
i kinda do what scrat says ,see what iv'e got then see what i can build
buy stuff at random then piece it together then you get the direction
for the stuff you need to comlpete it

then before you know it you've got a shed full of "quality items" that cost
too much and are worth nothing like the value you attach to them

it's great

your build ,build it with what you got then swap out what you dont like
as and when it turns up ,this way you dont get bored with it as you have something to ride and you can appreciate the changes you make
then get on with n0 2

 

[jonnyboy666]

back in the day i found i just kept all the used parts from when i upgraded whatever i was riding at the time, eventually you realise you have a bikes worth of bits! so i used to get used frame to hang those bits on as a spare bike or get a new frame for all the upgraded bits then rebuild the old bike as a spare or to sell.

then when i got in the trade the amount of bikes i had just gradually increased and so did the parts. i found if i sold a frame i'd end up having a spare front mech, b/b seatpost headset etc so these would get filed into a drawer just incase i needed them.

nowadays i usually start with buying a frame that takes my fancy and sometimes i'm lucky that i have parts that are right for that frame sat in the drawer.

likewise sometimes i see parts that i know will be useful but don't have a specific need right away, for example i just got some goldtec hubs from ebay, they are 8speed campagnolo, i could use them in one of 3 bikes at the moment but i got them only because they were bargain, i didn't need them, those bikes already have wheels but i'll now wait for some nice rims to come along that would suit the hubs and the bike i decide to put them in.

 

[jimihendrix]

It's definetely good to have a stock of parts like shifters, rear mechs, brakes, wheels, bars etc so that when you buy a frame you are not starting from complete scratch which can be frustraiting, then only need to buy stuff specific to the frame and can get it up and running quickly.

Trouble with me is i get sidetracked easily and i'm indecisive, i also get bored if a build drags on too long, right now i cant decide weather to concentrate on the Clockwork or LTS, or justify buying a new rear shock for the FSR and building that, on top of that i'm still looking for frames to add to the collection :roll:

 

[el chico ingles]

i think maybe my problem was getting bored aswell, i got the frame in july last year, but was full on racing at the time to look at things to get allthough i had a idea, but that changed an now i think its changing again....

 

[lewis1641]

i do have a tendency to buy a frame then throw whatever i have laying around onto it just to get it riding. that way you can make sure you like the bike before refining the spec/look of the bike