This thread was accidentally started here in the Classifieds section. I now moved it to the Triathlon Forum here. Thanks to everybody who already gave valuable hints here and my apologies for the mixup. Please for new posts follow the link and post there. Thank you.
STlers,
I am thinking of putting my own bike together from parts.
I would be doing this for the fun of it but wouldn’t mind saving a bunch.
The problem is that I have never worked on bicycles much and have no idea what is all needed (in every detail).
Would I best be starting with a frameset and probably buy a take-off gruppo like sometimes offered on ST?
I do have a background in mechanical work (cars) am a mechanical engineer by trade and have a decently equipped workshop/garage.
Can you tell me what’s needed or point me to some good resource, instructions or lists to get started?
Building up a modern road bike is very easy, if you have the right tool, especially for someone who has mechanical background.
Starting from a frameset is a good idea because that will probabaly determine the size of your stem and seatpost, then find some gentlely used components from places like here. You may want to get new cables/housings, they are pretty reasonably priced.
With the right tools and watching You Tube videos, much of the basic steps can be done easily. If a press is necessary for your headset, I’d have a shop do that step and also have the shop cut the steerer tube if necessary. Expect it to not be perfectly dialed in and take 2.5 times longer than you expect it to, but you’ll learn over time and improve.
One thing to be very careful with–the high limit adjustment on the rear derailleur. It’s easy to goof that one up and throw a chain into the spokes under load. Be very conscious of that.
It’s a rewarding task and saves a ton of money. I started as a hack home mechanic and now only bring the bike to the shop for higher level things I can’t do on my own, like wheel tensioning/truing, hydro bleeds on my MTB brakes, & shock servicing.
This thread was accidentally started here in the Classifieds section. I now moved it to the Triathlon Forum here. Thanks to everybody who already gave valuable hints here and my apologies for the mixup. Please for new posts follow the link and post there. Thank you.