So I have started to think about “rebuilding” my bike from the “frame up” so to speak.
I have a P2C and the frame is in great shape, but at some point wear and tear is going to win the battle against the moving parts. I sweat a ton in the summer and that is has already led to some corrosion of shifters, etc. I am sure after this summer I will have more of the same problems.
I wanted to start researching the process of rebuilding the bike and wanted to solicit advice from those who have done it.
What kind of costs am I looking at for a full “drive train”? I will not be assembling it, but how much money could I save by buying everything on my own vs. having a LBS order everything for me, then paying labor? is it worth the extra cost to go to ceramic?
bike currently has Dura Ace, but I am also interested in opinions on brands (SRAM ?).
getting the parts on your own will save about half the cost.
doing the work yourself is really rewarding
ceramic bearings are nice if they are standard (like in RED BB and jockey wheels) but I wouldn’t go out of my way to replace them in campy or DA
X2. Very rewarding, not tough to do, and doesn’t take many special tools. As an added plus, I don’t take my bike to the LBS for minor adjustments or tune ups anymore, as I now have the knowledge and confidence to do them myself.
Agree w/ above. It’s good to support your LBS in general, but really for stuff like this you’d get killed cost-wise since you’d be paying close to full retail on the parts (they might give you a small discount for the group), plus labor. You should be able to do much better on eBay or whatever, especially w/ the new DA line coming out displacing some of the older stuff. Labor-wise, I ALWAYS advocate learning how to do shit on your own, just in case you’re stuck somewhere and have to rely on yourself. Once you’ve done it a few times, then you can decide if it’s worth it to pay someone else to get his/her hands dirty for you instead.
I agree with the above responses. Building from the frame up will allow you to customize your spec, fine-tune your fit, learn the intricacies of your bike (so that when something breaks down during a race you will be able to problem-solve), save a lot of money, and least but not least discover a whole new way of having fun. There are numerous on-line shops such as ProBikeKit offering brand new components for less than what used stuff costs on eBay. Don’t shun your LBS completely, though; there is something to be said for supporting local businesses. A good “middle” way is to get your components on-line while having some of the trickier parts of the build (such as fork-cutting or BB installation) done at the shop.
I have no idea what the cost would be at your LBS. But you can get pretty good prices on groups at this site: www.probikekit.com. You can sign up for their mailing list and you will get notices when groups go on sale. Sometimes the prices you can find are very compelling.
Why not install the comps yourself? It’s actually alot easier than people think. You can get most of the info you’ll need on tools, installs, etc, from websites like parktools.com. The only special tools you may need are a crank puller and BB tool, which are pretty cheap, and potentially a chain whip/cassette remover if you’re going to also swap out the cassette. The rest of the work can be done w/ an allen set and standard cable cutter. Not sure what your LBS charges, but it will likely add at least $50 and go well into the hundreds for install (they may cut you a deal on labor if you buy the parts from them, but the parts will costs alot more than other places).
As for comps, check Craigslist…alot. Assuming you live near a major metro area, chances are you’ll find most of what you’ll need locally and alot cheaper than retail. It may take a little longer, but the cost savings are worth it. I’ve built up alot of bikes, and I can usually build up a complete race-caliber drivetrain (e.g. SRAM red) for less than $1000. Figure you’ll likely be spending at least $500 for a quality drivetrain, and the cost can go up from there. Personally, I love SRAM, but I’ve ridden DA too, and it gets the job done.
Good luck on your effort. I think you’ll find it very rewarding.
Like you, I sweat out alot. A good bit of it is salt. I find it necessary to take the bike appart every year at this time to clean clean everything out, and inspect for potential damage.