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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Do you buy stock builds?

ATC

Nov 22, 08 20:24

Post #1 of 17 (629 views)

Do you buy stock builds?	Can't Post

Did you customize your bike build or did you buy it stock build?
Sometimes I dont understand why people just click and buy when you can have the fun of customizing a build and having something unique. There are tons of part options out there that allow you to customize a build and it doesnt have to change the price too much. Maybe its because I work in a shop and therefor realize/have access to the options out there. I guess stock is quick and easy.

-Adam
http://www.austintricyclist.com
http://austintriathlonstore.blogspot.com/

cyclonehockey21

Nov 22, 08 20:31

Post #2 of 17 (623 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've always bought a frameset since i started tris, never a stock build. Don't see a point when i can get most of the components for cheap on ebay.

Grant

SilentK

Nov 22, 08 20:46

Post #3 of 17 (605 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm the same way. I like buying a frame and then building it myself. In the end it is built with the exact parts I want and is usually cheaper than a stock build anyway.

TriUno83

Nov 22, 08 20:57

Post #4 of 17 (593 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [SilentK] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My last stock off-the-shelf bike (not counting the kids) was in '91 or '92, about 9 or 10 bikes ago. Since then, I've bought 2 complete but with customized builds; the rest I've just gotten bare frames and built up entirely myself. Can't honestly say for sure they ride better that way, though I'd like to think so, but it's nice to have something that's distinctive and set up exactly however it suits me.

Edit to add - It's definitely not cost-effective to do a scratch build compared to buying a complete bike, although you might come out ahead if you know what you're doing compared to getting a stock build and then swapping out this, that, and everything else after the fact.

(This post was edited by TriUno83 on Nov 22, 08 21:03)

SilentK

Nov 22, 08 21:07

Post #5 of 17 (583 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [TriUno83] [In reply to]	Can't Post

maybe I should have said cheaper based on what I get. My last two I've built with SRAM force and now red and I've come in very close to stock build prices. If I compared stock built with sram compared to my build with sram, I'm in cheaper.

ATC

Nov 22, 08 21:48

Post #6 of 17 (558 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [cyclonehockey21] [In reply to]	Can't Post

As a follow up question to all: What part of the stock build do you seem to always be changing/upgrading?
http://www.austintricyclist.com
http://austintriathlonstore.blogspot.com/

JulianInEngland

Nov 23, 08 0:50

Post #7 of 17 (520 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm th same as Cyclon in that I usually buy the frameset I want and build from there. The main driver for me is so that I get exactly what I want whether it be a light or an aero build. Other factors for me , that are rarely met by stock builds are the requirement to run Campag grouppos on road and tri bikes and hope brakes on mtb bikes.

I agree that it usually costs more than a stock build although I would still have to factor in buying the upgrades on top of the full purchase and then the cost to sell the surplus parts. Sometimes that or buying the upgrades on ebay can make it cheaper or run pretty close to stock price.

-----------------------------------------------------------
The above poster is English not British, please refrain from using the B word as it causes me offence.
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"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

Mattglenway

Nov 23, 08 3:56

Post #8 of 17 (492 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I usually end up swapping out the crankset. The last two bikes I purchased were spec'ed with full ultegra drivetrains except for the FSA Gossamer crankset. What's up with that?

footwerx

Nov 23, 08 5:12

Post #9 of 17 (471 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

it seems the definition of frameset is getting more and more all-encompasing these days anyway. it used to be just frame/headset and fork. then with some tri bikes it included an aero seatpost. today you can barely get a frameset without having to use proprietary forks, cranks, brake calipers, stem, aerobar etc. Heck some brands even have proprietary water bottles!

i prefer framesets too, but i tend to go for the mid-end models out of budget which often do not come as framesets.

To answer your latest question, saddle and aerobars are probably the ones i change most. and of course nobody races with stock wheels anymore...

Hid

Nov 23, 08 5:17

Post #10 of 17 (467 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm unique enough that my bike doesn't need to be.

"it's like information without the facts." - Mr. Tibbs

"it's not posted to a triathlon forum, but to a lifestyle forum that happens to be inhabited by triathletes. all kinds of stuff gets posted here, and i'm grateful that it does. - Dan Empfield aka Slowman
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...0what%20to%20;#65849

bmanners

Nov 23, 08 6:01

Post #11 of 17 (439 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My next bike will be a custom build. My first tri bike was a QR Kilo which I upgrade'd a little at a time. My original thinking was I was getting the most bang for my buck compared to alot others out there. Talking about groupset, stock parts and company reliability plus I liked the paint job. Also by doing this I ended up with three wheel sets, two sets of handlebars, seatpost and a few seats. This way I have a race day bike a training bike right now. Later when I get a new frame set and groupset I will have 2 or 3 bikes with top end parts to chose from in the stable. Plus a 1970 Atala proffesional record to go old school on. Just need a old Atala jersey if anyone out there has the old blue and white stripe one?

zipp

Nov 23, 08 6:17

Post #12 of 17 (422 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In 18 years of tri's I've gone through about 16 different bikes. I've always built my own.
Paul
---------------------------------------------------------
http://casasedona.com

jpflores

Nov 23, 08 9:13

Post #13 of 17 (344 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

first tri bike (10 years ago) was stock.
second tri bike was stock, but ended up changing out the saddle, brakes and brake levers.
road bike was custom built (i selected all the parts)
current tri bike (under construction at the moment) build is going to be a 'custom" as well, a combination of parts from my current bike and some new stuff.

I agree, its a lot of fun to play with different options and get something unique.
__________________
JP
http://www.gojpgo.blogspot.com
"When a man says 'I cannot', he has made a suggestion to himself. He has weakened his power of accomplishing that which otherwise would have been accomplished." ~ Muhammad Ali

(This post was edited by jpflores on Nov 23, 08 9:14)

ija.z

Nov 23, 08 13:12

Post #14 of 17 (271 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Pretty well never. It is way too much fun building the bike up yourself with the exact stuff that you want.

zipp

Nov 23, 08 13:40

Post #15 of 17 (247 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh, I forgot.....add one more build as my new tri bike should be here in a week or 2.
Paul
---------------------------------------------------------
http://casasedona.com

flying wombat

Nov 23, 08 14:38

Post #16 of 17 (212 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I buy a stock bike, usually the cheapest version with the frame I want. The components I have are the ones I have accumulated as I like them and they work for me, so I move them onto the new frame and put the new components on the old frame and sell it.
No bike I buy stays stock for long.

Kevin
tri-mesa.com

paragoncycling.com

sppnet

Nov 23, 08 20:06

Post #17 of 17 (123 views)

Re: Do you buy stock builds? [ATC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I usually buy stock as it tends to be the cheapest and swap out most of the parts for my regular preferred parts and sell the rest.