Possible to compose my own new bike?
#26
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I have bicycle preferences that don't seem to be met by the industry but could be had in theory. Is there any way for me to choose all (or most) of my components/parts, so that I have the exact combination that I want from the very beginning? Such as a website that will allow me to start with a cro-mo loaded-touring frame/fork, then let me choose any combination of components (unless they aren't compatible) ?
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#27
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After more "window shopping", I think I've found a bike that's close to what I want. I'm not sure that I like this season's color choices - black or grey - but, the Surly Disc Trucker seems to be what I want, with the exception of the wheelset. It appears that the 650b size rim w/the WTB Horizon tire along with some kind of full-length fender will work with the 26" version of this Surly. Maybe I can get the shop to swap out the wheels and just charge me the difference.
#28
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Disc Trucker has pretty good components; any special reason for wanting the 650b wheels? I'd lean to trying the stock 26" wheels first since it's pretty close to the 650b; tire choice could easily be a bigger factor in handling/comfort than a 1" rim diameter difference. With fenders, esp, 650b might limit max tire width a bit vs the 26".
https://live.staticflickr.com/7827/4...0d85b96926.jpg
https://store.bluelug.com/media/cata...pp_27511_1.jpg
I'll wait until I can get better confirmation.
(This here is why I would use a composition compatibility website feature)
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I thought I'd seen more examples of this bike/tire combo with what appear to be proper fenders but, apparently it's only these two:
https://live.staticflickr.com/7827/4...0d85b96926.jpg
https://store.bluelug.com/media/cata...pp_27511_1.jpg
I'll wait until I can get better confirmation.
(This here is why I would use a composition compatibility website feature)
https://live.staticflickr.com/7827/4...0d85b96926.jpg
https://store.bluelug.com/media/cata...pp_27511_1.jpg
I'll wait until I can get better confirmation.
(This here is why I would use a composition compatibility website feature)
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#31
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I began composing bikes in my early teens. Not unlike Mozart, who began at 8, I believe.
My most recent composition took me to the far flung reaches of the Chinese provinces, from which factory workers had been harvested to create my parts from raw materials. With the exchange of currencies and global transport, receiving my cherished parts was easy, leaving me time to relax and ponder their travels. Assembly or 'fitting' posed little challenge, since I speak both Newton-meters and inch-pounds.
Ah, Newton...now there was a great mind...
My most recent composition took me to the far flung reaches of the Chinese provinces, from which factory workers had been harvested to create my parts from raw materials. With the exchange of currencies and global transport, receiving my cherished parts was easy, leaving me time to relax and ponder their travels. Assembly or 'fitting' posed little challenge, since I speak both Newton-meters and inch-pounds.
Ah, Newton...now there was a great mind...
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#32
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You can buy a frame and hang whatever parts you want on it, noting European online prices are lower than US wholesale.
You can even get used or New Old Stock components when they no longer make what you want. I switched to 2006 Campagnolo Record Titanium 10 speed triple parts with 2010 Cantaur Carbon Ultrashift levers in 2013.
Having a bike built in 1997 was a better choice for me than buying something off the showroom floor. Campagnolo Athena brakes + headset, 50-40-30 Racing-T crank + derailleurs x 13-21 cassette yielding a 13-19 straight block for flat rides plus low like 42x28 for mountains, Chorus ball bearing shifters, Chorus hubs with grease ports, Cinelli 66 deep drop bars to have both comfortable all-day and low fast positions, my favorite saddle, my preferred bar tape, and color coordinated cages:
That ran $2000 sans pedals/cages ($3200 adjusted for inflation). A decent steel or aluminum bike could have run $1000, same frame with 105 $1700 as a factory bike, and a stock Chorus titanium bike would have been more expensive. None of the stock alternatives would have matched my tastes or come with hand-built wheels.
I'm still riding the frame and fork 22 years later, including 35,000 miles over the last decade.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 12-06-19 at 02:37 PM.
#33
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No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm suggesting eg. go to LBS (eg Trek shop).
1. Pick frame/style of bike (eg. Emonda, Madone, Domane)
2. Pick groupset perhaps (eg. Tiagra thru DA Di2)
3. Pick cockpit pkg (cheap alloy pkg up to aero CF)
4. Pick wheelset (cheap alloy up to deep aero CF)
The LBS would in theory be sitting there to help you make the smart choices. The 3-4 pkg options would be sitting at the distributor for delivery within 2-3 days for final assembly by the LBS. For such a service, add on $100-200 for the LBS's time to assemble.
1. Pick frame/style of bike (eg. Emonda, Madone, Domane)
2. Pick groupset perhaps (eg. Tiagra thru DA Di2)
3. Pick cockpit pkg (cheap alloy pkg up to aero CF)
4. Pick wheelset (cheap alloy up to deep aero CF)
The LBS would in theory be sitting there to help you make the smart choices. The 3-4 pkg options would be sitting at the distributor for delivery within 2-3 days for final assembly by the LBS. For such a service, add on $100-200 for the LBS's time to assemble.
I got mine from Excel Sports Boulder which was a few blocks from my office.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 12-06-19 at 08:23 AM.
#34
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You could try benscyles.com go to their Milwaukee Bicycle Co site, pick your frame, color, decals, badges, then the components. Their frames are custom made by Waterford in WI, great people at Bens, have dealt with them personally many times, one of the best bike shops in the Midwest.
Tim
Tim
#35
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Bike shop happy (extra couple hundred bucks to pay labor for staff they already likely have on payroll). Consumer happy as they can get something closer to exactly what they want. Manufacturer happy as they have differentiated themselves from companies who don't do this, and therefore sell more bikes.
Would like to see there even being size selection options in the component builds (eg. handlebar widths, stem length, cassette gearing). If Ribble can do this with their 'bike builder' options, and market internationally, there should be a way that the huge guys with their scale could figure it out.
#36
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Bike shop happy (extra couple hundred bucks to pay labor for staff they already likely have on payroll). Consumer happy as they can get something closer to exactly what they want. Manufacturer happy as they have differentiated themselves from companies who don't do this, and therefore sell more bikes.
Currently, if you want nicer components you're forced to buy a bike with a higher markup.
With the price broken down into line items for frame, group, wheels, etc. few people are going to pay a four figure markup to get a "nicer" frame saving 200g or in red not blue.
Companies won't be able to make that up on components because it will cost customers less to order frame + cheap throw away components then buy the components they want without the bike company's markup.
More SKUs will increase overhead and sales cost for lower profits.
Would like to see there even being size selection options in the component builds (eg. handlebar widths, stem length, cassette gearing).
If Ribble can do this with their 'bike builder' options, and market internationally, there should be a way that the e guys with their scale could figure it out.
Ribble just sells parts with optional assembly. It's a different business model with no sales at low price points and fewer at the top.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 12-06-19 at 10:40 AM.
#37
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More SKUs will increase overhead and sales cost for lower profits.
While nice, more SKUs reduce profit.
Bike companies do much better selling you a nicer bike for $5000 than letting you piece together one on a less expensive frame for $3500, and everyone in their retail chain benefits from the limited SKUs without cassette/crank/stem/bars/etc. options within that level.
Ribble just sells parts with optional assembly. It's a different business model with no sales at low price points and fewer at the top.
I'm not convinced there would be more SKUs -- actually I think a lot less. There are I believe like 26 different Domane models on Trek's site. On average each available in 6 sizes and 2-4 color schemes. You can do the math... somewhere about 400-500 SKUs
OTOH, they could have basically 2 frames (SL and SLR) x 6 sizes. 5 Groupset offerings (Tiagra, 105, Ult, Ult Di2, DA Di2?); 3 Cockpit choices; 5 Wheelset Choices. About 25 SKUs. 2 Color choices for frames would go to about 50 SKUs.
#38
QR-disc must die!!!
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