Build my own bike?

[BeeLady]

I called Xtracycle today to order my Surly Big Dummy. And I was told they don't have any built bikes left. They can send me the frame, headset, fork and sell me some handlebars (I want those high risers). Other than that its up to me and my LBS.

I priced the components on the built Big Dummy that Xtracyle has sold and with me buying the components would end up costing more than what Xtracyle could sell it to me for built, but in SEPTEMBER.

So, how hard is it to build a bike? If I ask my LBS to do it, is it customary for the LBS to give me a financial break on the the components, i.e., paying closer to their wholesale price than the retail price? Plus pay their labor costs (how long would it take them anyway?)

On one hand I think it would be a great learning experience to research, buy and install the components. My DH could help with the installation and my LBS could do the fine tuning, cable connections, etc.

Any comments from you more experienced ladies? The reasons I would even consider attempting it DIY is to save some money and to learn about bikes. But then again, I don't want to be still "building my bike" in October!!!!

[mimitabby]

When I bought my frame, the LBS charged I think $200 for assembly. They did give me a discount on the parts they sold me but I bought a custom frame from them; so it might be different for you.

there was no way on earth that i was going to try to assemble that bike!

[BeeLady]

Thanks Mimi. I need that kind of discouragement. Seriously -- I would hate to buy all these parts, have the frame, etc. and then have the LBS put me on the bottom of the list and charge me heavily since I went around them on everything. I'm sure building a bike sounds a lot easier than it is.

Two hundred dollars assembly does not sound bad to me. I guess I'll go buy my LBS tomorrow and go over the process to get an estimate.

Unless of course some others really believe it is doable. . .

[DebW]

Unless you are very familiar with parts available and lots of technical details, it would be good to work with a shop to make sure that all the parts you buy will work together and will work with your frame. You need to know what length derailleur cage to get for your chainring/cog combinations. You need to make sure the chainline will be correct. You need the correct reach on the brake calipers. If you order through them and they find a problem, they should correct it, but if you've bought the parts you'll have to buy something else.

[Thorn]

Interesting....the "assembly charge" on the two bikes I had built this winter were both under $100. But, I would guess that I paid more, relatively speaking, for the parts. It is all marketing. But good marketing--with those prices I'd only build myself if I wanted the experience.

So, if you want the experience building a bike, do it, but, as others have said, work with the LBS for the parts so that they work together. This winter I built up two bikes, a purrrrr-ty Waterford with Campy Chorus and a Surly Pacer, dubbed Slush Kicker, for riding in sloppy weather.

Needless to say the Pacer did not get high-end components and, given that here in the snow-bound north, roads are either white with snow cover or white with salt crust, I really didn't want to spend much on Pacer parts that would need replacement every few years or so.

The LBS was great....he pulled out sale catalogs and closeouts and successfully built up a bike that would have cost 1.5 times what I paid for it if it was "off-the-shelf". Very unusual, since the big manufacturers pay a fraction of what we do for the components--as you discovered when you costed out the Big Dummy. For the Pacer build the LBS was invaluable--they have connections.

[mimitabby]

Thorn, I walked into the bike shop with my own Campy setup, saddle, and wheels.
I believe the charge was 200, the point is, they charged, i might be wrong on the exact fee.

[Thorn]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it is too much or too little. It just is. Over the last couple of months I've been a significant contributor to the LBS's rent payment In that time, I have yet to figure out how they calculate their prices. And, frankly, I don't pay that much attention--sometimes I think the price is low, sometimes it is high, but it all averages out. I get what I need and they're still in business.

At the time of my Waterford build, I was surprised at how little the labor was in the quote, but just assumed it was covered in the parts. Regardless, even $200 to build with existing parts isn't bad. In my world of consulting that doesn't even cover 2 hours.

[rij73]

If you aren't worried about your LBS losing out on your business for this one, then I highly recommend having Xtracycle send the frame over to GVH bikes. Check them (actually, him) out at http://gvhbikes.com

When I bought my frame on Ebay, I had the seller send the frame directly to Tom (the GVH guy), and he built it up with the components of my choice. The price on the components was better than I could possibly have gotten buying them anywhere else, and the assembly was only $75! Shipping was only $55! It was sooooo economical, and he was very speedy. He sent out my bike in less than a week from the time he got it. And he did an absolutely first-rate job. He really loves bikes and puts his heart into it, you can tell. I haven't even had to tighten a cable since I got the bike last July!

[Blueberry]

In my world of consulting that doesn't even cover 2 hours.

It's .9 hours in my world (law). Less for a partner

$200 seems reasonable to me, for bringing all parts. I think I'd expect either a good price on parts/a small labor discount if I bought all parts there.

[BeeLady]

I rode over to my LBS and even though the regular fellow there had never visited the xtracyle web site or heard of the Big Dummy, he did look over the list of components I gave him and the BD frame on Surly. He thinks he can build the same bike sold by xtracycle for the same price.

His shop has built several Surly's but no longtails or Xtracycles. He told me how he had to carry in a bike frame on his bike this morning and while we were looking at the Xtracylce web page there was a photo of a BD with an actual bike rack attached to it and a bike being carried on it!

The other good news is, I can watch while my bike is assembled (and they won't charge me extra). So maybe I can learn something by watching.

Now I'm looking forward to my Big Dummy on the road in just a couple of weeks.

[Triskeliongirl]

The two bike shops I worked with in SAT only charged me ~$100 to build a bike (both Joe's Pro Bikes and Brittons).

[tulip]

Hey BeeLady, maybe you'll inspire your LBS to start carrying Xtracycles and/or Big Dummies. Good work!

[xeney]

It's .9 hours in my world (law). Less for a partner.

2.1 in mine! That's what I get for going into public interest law. (On the other hand, I am working right now in my pajamas, and I'll be done for the day by the time my daughter finishes her morning nap.)

On topic: my bike shop charges a pretty big markup on parts, even when they give me a "discount" and I pay them to do the build. It is always a trade off for me as to whether I want to give them the business to thank them for all the advice and help they've given us over the years, or whether I want to save money and have my husband do the work. He can do almost anything except for a few things where he doesn't have the right tools -- removing some bottom brackets, installing headsets, and a few small things where it's not worth buying a special tool.

With the bike I'm having built up now, I am afraid it's going to cost me an extra $500 or so to have the shop buy the parts and build it rather than doing it ourselves, and I am having a few regrets about that decision, but I guess we'll see how it works out.