Hey bicycle people... I have some questions.

Ive been looking at all the pics you have posted of your non motored rides, and now Id like to give building one a go. I need to get back into shape, and my knees are beat up so a bike it is... Now heres the deal.
I mean nothing. Ill post some pics of what Id like to have in the end, but it seems that these bikes cost more than my 350 will to finish. Fuck that. Cant do it. I dont need a carbon fibre frame thats moulded inside a golden temple under a dome at the bottom of the sea by giant griffons or whatever it is that makes some of these so damn expensive.

"Ya, Im a griffon. Now if you will excuse me, I have magic bicycles to build..."


Ok back to my point. I would like to build a decent inexpensive bike for riding around town. Im not racing, nor am I riding this thing as my main form of transport. Just to help lose some gut.
-So any pointers?
-Good brands that arent only affordable to tzars, oil barons, and trust fund hipsters?
-Any old parts laying around you wanna donate or sell on the cheap? (ill let you ride the griffon )
-Any good websites (other than you porn) or magazines (other than cat fancy) out there?
-Any nude photos of that smokin' hot preppy chick I went to high school with who wouldnt bang me b/c I was one of "those trouble starting kids", even though I know she totally wanted to?

Ok thanks for your help. Unless you didnt help, and could have. Your just kind of a dick. Seriously. ;D

I like these, but im sure they run in the $2000 to "youll need to go ahead and sign here, ya there. Thanks for your soul chump..."

By build to you mean handbuild the frame? Or buy a complete bike/frameset and build it up with components?

What kind of riding will you be doing/plan to do? Pavement, trail, both? Are you wanting gears, singlespeed, or fixed?

Oh and what is your target price range? I will try to find you a bike that won't cost an arm and a leg and won't be a POS wally-world bike. Just do your best to answer those questions above.


andrew

mothgils said:

By build to you mean handbuild the frame? Or buy a complete bike/frameset and build it up with components?

What kind of riding will you be doing/plan to do? Pavement, trail, both? Are you wanting gears, singlespeed, or fixed?

Oh and what is your target price range? I guarantee that I can find you a bike that won't cost an arm and a leg and won't be a POS wally-world bike. Just do your best to answer those questions above.


andrew

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Although I would love to make my own frame, thats not an option right now. I just envisioned putting together a decent road riding only bike on the very cheap from whatever bits anf pieces I can scrounge. In case you souldnt smell the abject poverty dripping off of that last statement () my budget is nearly non existent right now. That'll change very soon, but until than Im not sure exactly what Ill have to drop, but figue what the least youve ever spent to buy a bike and divide that by 50. NO FIXIES. I dig em, but if you have ever been to western PA (and not in the city) you know what I mean. I really did walk uphill to school both ways. No shit.

Its full of 15 year olds, but pinkbike.com is the place for bicyclists. Its got EVERYTHING. Kinda like DTT.

Basement rat said:

Its full of 15 year olds, but pinkbike.com is the place for bicyclists. Its got EVERYTHING. Kinda like DTT.

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I hate pinkbike. Check out http://velospace.org/node for just bikes and ideas. Check out http://ridemonkey.com/ for more of a community like DTT. Cool guys (for the most part) and lots of different forums. It's mostly downhill oriented but they have areas for everything.

Don't forget that you'll have to change your wardrobe and lifestyle depending on what bike you go with. For example:

BMX - Buy pants several sizes too small or go with girl pants. Other than that just some T-shirts and a chain wallet.

Fixed Gear - Same thing with the pants, or get some capri's. Also will need a beard, flannel shirt, a liking of PBR, and probably need to be unemployed.

High End Road Bike - Lots of lycra and an undeserved elitist attitude.

Stereotypes exist for a reason ;D ;D ;D

Hey VonYinzer

You could get a decent bike running for +/- $200. Here's my 'grocery getter' that I built up from an old panasonic 10 speed frame with parts from another old centurion road bike. I'd keep your eye out on craigslist or just ask around cause you never know who has an old road bike thats been sitting in their garage for years. However, there are a lot of shitty old bikes so some key things to look for would be:

-steel lugged frame
-3 piece cranks
-euro bottom bracket (american bottom brakets are garbage)

Good tires will run you $80 for a pair but are more than worth it. Philly is covered in broken glass so I run Brontrager Hard Case kevlar tires which are tough as hell.

Your local bike shops might have used road bikes as well that they take as trade ins and fix up.

This is a picture of my bike mid-build. Its a single speed and I have brakes on it. If you're interested I can show you how I took the 10 speed wheel and made it into a single speed. Much cheaper than buying a single speed wheel. Anyway, nothing special but it gets the job done and I don't worry about locking it up around the city.

Thanks guys! A friend of mine emailed me today to say he may have a bike for me. Im waiting on him to call me so I can figure out what hes got.

adamrjordan: thats a good looking ride man. Dumb question #1: I dont need a 10 speed (i dont think), and dont want a fixie... Whats the deal with a single speed? Isnt that the same as a fixie?
Dumb question #2: What the hell is a bottom bracket, and how can I tell where its made? Im serious about the knowing NOTHING deal... Sorry. I havent even ridden a bicycle since I was in middle school.

Basement Rat: Thanks for the heads up, Ill see what its all about.

SquadraCourse: Ill check those joints out for sure. Thanks. I think Im going to create my own, all new subculture. Lets just say it involves pinstriped pants, suspenders, a white undershirt and a bowler hat. It'll be the next huge thing. You just watch...

VonYinzer said:

Thanks guys! A friend of mine emailed me today to say he may have a bike for me. Im waiting on him to call me so I can figure out what hes got.

adamrjordan: thats a good looking ride man. Dumb question #1: I dont need a 10 speed (i dont think), and dont want a fixie... Whats the deal with a single speed? Isnt that the same as a fixie?

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A singlespeed is still just that...one speed. You can change out your rear cog and/or front ring to get different gear choices. A singlespeed differs from a fixie because it has a freewheel rear hub which allows you to coast. So you can run normal brakes and not try to kill yourself by stopping. Both of my mountain bikes are singlespeeds. I love the simplicity of them.

Mike shoot me an email - Ive got the hookup for ya man.

mothgils said:

A singlespeed is still just that...one speed. You can change out your rear cog and/or front ring to get different gear choices. A singlespeed differs from a fixie because it has a freewheel rear hub which allows you to coast. So you can run normal brakes and not try to kill yourself by stopping. Both of my mountain bikes are singlespeeds. I love the simplicity of them.

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Ok... Thats what I assumed. Just wasnt sure. Thanks.

$2000 dollars wouldn't get you the wheels off either of those bikes you posted.

with 350 bucks i'd just cruise craigslist.

here's a heck of a deal:
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/1546723789.html

figure out what size bike you need first though. go to a bike shop and ask them to size you, they'll be happy to help and you'll get to look at bikes and ask questions.

the bottom bracket (BB) is the piece that connects your cranks (the things your pedals screw into) to your frame. all most all modern bikes have standard english threading (normal threading on the non-drive side and reverse thread on the drive side) with the exception of italian bikes which have italian threaded BBs (normal thread on both sides, different thread pitch). both of these should be readily available at your local bike shop. the only thing you'd have to worry about is if you bought an old french bike like a peugot or a motobecane. some of these have the no longer widely manufactured french BB. so unless you know for sure that the BB is in good condition or not french threaded i'd stay away from them.

hope that helps!

If your knees are shot you will need gears, the 'hardcore' are using singlespeed/fixed wheel.
I used a basic 10 speed race bike for one build (former 'Milk Race' Raleigh)
My Muddy Fox was also 'drop bar' bike until I converted them to hybrid's.
I fitted limited travel suspension forks to it
Today though you can buy a bike better speceed' bike cheaper than building your own
Hybrid is basically drop bar bike with mountain bike handlebars.
Personally I find this set up far more useful around town, (although you won't be able to go as fast with upright seating) position
I didn't (re) start cycling until I was 40, lay off of about 24~25yrs


PJ

Hey VonYinzer:

So I totally feel you on the prices of bikes... Scary

I was similar when I first started riding. I did not want to got out and spend $2000 on a bike only to then realieze that the wheelset and tires are gonna put me back an additional $3K.

Now I have become a snob because I get spoiled with get free gear.

So I went out and snapped a couple pic of my first road bike... I think all in all I spent around $200 building it. Nothing special but also not a bad bike and was more than enough to get me excited about riding again (i think I rode this for over a year before upgrading.) I bought the frame from a guy for 50 or 60 dollars off CL. It is a specialized (prob 20+ years old) not sure of the model, but then I just added the components I needed. A good bike it totally doable for a couple hundred dollars


I keep it for friends now, but it is still a great bike... very fast and tackles hills like no ones business. I will never get rid of this one


Micah

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/1567105364.html

I WANT IT! $1700 = :'(

VonYinzer said:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/1567105364.html

I WANT IT! $1700 = :'(

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That is a pretty sick Down Hill setup... I have had my eye on a few of those, I just don't do enough DH or single track for that matter.

Any guys ride Single track out there? I really want to start.

dakine_surf said:

That is a pretty sick Down Hill setup... I have had my eye on a few of those, I just don't do enough DH or single track for that matter.

Any guys ride Single track out there? I really want to start.

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used to, not much any good in Florida, though my brother still does downhill on this

He's bit younger than me though, only 51 ;D
That Specialized has similar chainset and seatpost to my Muddy Fox so I guess it must be about same 'vintage' ?

PJ

Wow PJ that is a nice rig there, looks nice and cushy. Do you know how many inches of travel that front fork has? Looks like fun no matter what!

Von, I can't remember, but isn't there a bicycle shop in downtown Beaver? Been a long time since I was there.

Ya R, Snitgers. I actually know the owners as I grew up with their kids and nephews. The wife is a sweetheart, but the husband is, well... They get rid of any old stuff or trade ins QUICK and for a premium. Not real helpful unfortunatly.