Can I come and play?

[Dizzie]

Hi.
New forum user saying hi. Have had a mad idea to build a TT bike, didn't think I was mad when I found the frame but faced with fellow cyclists disbelief have started to question my sanity ? So far have the frame, Kona Lisa TR and the forks, (carbon), Seat post ordered from Kona as a tear drop 34.9. Know what drive/gearing I want, seriously considering Cinelli Little wing bars, that's it so far. All suggestions gratefully received. It's my winter project so trying to hold back from buying everything this week.

[Eden]

Building a bike isn't crazy... There are a few things that you might want to have a shop do, mainly because they require a special (and often expensive) tool, but as long as you've access to a good tool kit, patience, and either already have the skills or posses a good instruction book, why not.

We're I doing it, I'd be comfortable doing everything except for pressing in the headset and cutting the steering tube and I don't have the tool for my current bottom bracket. Otherwise I think I've cleaned, serviced or replaced just about every other part on a bike at some time.

[Dizzie]

Thanks, I think it's a great idea. Thankfully I married into a biking family, my brother-in-law builds frames, my uncle in law builds wheels and my OH used to race trikes so the experts are there. Just I am an only daughter with 5 brothers so quite independent. Going to strip a couple of my son's old bikes this weekend as a practice.

[Becky]

I don't see anything crazy about building your own. I rarely buy a stock bike anymore. Building my own from a frame lets me get exactly what I want and is just plain fun! DH and I do have access to headset and frame prep tools, so we'll work on that stuff together. Otherwise, just take your bare frame and fork to your favorite shop to have them do it. The rest is pretty straightforward.

[Cycling Sister]

It's a great idea. I plan on going to look at a TT frame today. My husband bought me classes at a lbs. Already learned how to tune my bike, true the wheels, and a few other things. The mechanic and I will build the bike together over the winter if I decide to buy the frame and parts. The frame and all the parts will most likely be purchased elsewhere, not at the lbs. The mechanic already knows this and even recommended the other lbs for the TT frame. Even if I don't build a bike this winter, I've already decided to learn how to build wheels for my current bike this winter.

[Cycling Sister]

Hi Dizzie,

I had posted another reply that is no longer here. How did stripping your son's bike go this weekend?

I also meant a Titanium (Ti) frame, not a TT bike. sigh.