Custom bike building

[Crankin]

Last summer, in the course of giving me an "exchange" frame for the one that was too big, I realized that I was indeed, more knowledgeable about some women specific issues than my LBS. I had them transfer over all of the components, but I wanted different, short reach brifters and a short reach, shallow drop bar. I had to do all of the research myself. I found that it was cheaper for the LBS to order the brifters; I could not find anyplace that would give me a better price than they could get. However, I was on my own for the bars. I did the on line research and bought them at a larger LBS. I was happy to pay for the labor.

I am figuring that my graduation present for myself in 2 years is going to be a custom bike. I have a lot of biomechanical issues that have fallen on deaf ears. While my husband could and has built up bikes for my son, I will most likely go to Seven, since they are close by. I am not mechanical enough to do anything myself and I am happy to do it the way Lisa did, as a package.

[Cataboo]

I haven't actually gotten a custom frame, but I've bought frames, bought all the parts, and then built it all up myself. Most of the pieces came from online or ebay, but some things were just bought at local bike shops - chains, cables, things like that.

I never priced it out how much it would have been if I'd gone to a bike shop, but I'm assuming a lot more expensive and then I wouldn't have had as much "fun"