This is my new build. It's based on this fantastic frame I found from an ebay seller who's shop is right around the corner from my school. It's so light you could literally toss the bike over your shoulder and carry it around if you needed to (and I've done it--many times). The build wasn't terribly difficult, but I had to do it in my dorm and didn't have any tools so it was a bit frustrating. It also needed a ton of tweaking because it was my first, and a lot of things weren't 100% installed correctly (oops!). Anyway it's finished now and there aren't any more parts falling off. I wish the weather was better so I could ride it, but it's snowing and freezing out.
I probably wouldn't recommend building your own bike as it would have been so much easier to just buy a bike from the store. In the end I ended up with a much better frame, but my components aren't nearly as good as what I could have gotten if I had bought something off the shelf. Still it's a good feeling after it's all finished--especially when you get complements from the ladies on your craftsmanship...
Specs:
Aluminum Dirt Research Frame
Crappy 'Ballistic' fork
Shimano Deore crankset
Surly Singulator
Aluminum riser bars
Aluminum seat post
Tektro rear brake
I'll take some pictures if it ever stops snowing, but I have some older shots I can put up in the meanwhile.
Edit: These pictures are from when I was building. They don't have the new seatpost (this one broke) or handlebars (these are rusty and shitty). Also I hadn't yet cut the fork so it wasn't really attached properly.
Full shot
Chain Tensioner
Frame Closeup
Front Half
I probably wouldn't recommend building your own bike as it would have been so much easier to just buy a bike from the store. In the end I ended up with a much better frame, but my components aren't nearly as good as what I could have gotten if I had bought something off the shelf. Still it's a good feeling after it's all finished--especially when you get complements from the ladies on your craftsmanship...
Specs:
Aluminum Dirt Research Frame
Crappy 'Ballistic' fork
Shimano Deore crankset
Surly Singulator
Aluminum riser bars
Aluminum seat post
Tektro rear brake
I'll take some pictures if it ever stops snowing, but I have some older shots I can put up in the meanwhile.
Edit: These pictures are from when I was building. They don't have the new seatpost (this one broke) or handlebars (these are rusty and shitty). Also I hadn't yet cut the fork so it wasn't really attached properly.
Full shot
Chain Tensioner
Frame Closeup
Front Half