Bike Build

[Cancel 2016.2]

Well there are two things I like about Sram. One is that it's a little lower in pricing than Shimano and significantly less than Campy but like Campy you can repair parts (unlike Shimano where you have to buy a new part). However, like you I've never ridden Sram. The guys I ride with tell me that Force is way better than Ultegra and is closer in quality to Campy Chorus and about $300 less than chorus. Having said that. There's a certain snob appeal to owning Campy. It says you realy care about cycling.

I guess what's making the decision difficult for me is at $1200 to $1300 for Campy Chorus I could spend a couple hundred more and get Sram Red. That's very tempting. Then again, I'll never race again so Red, Dura Ace and Record is probably a big waste of money for me. So I think I've narrowed it down to Sram Force or Campy Chorus (I think they are both superior to Ultegra). Since I expect this bike to last 10 years or more.....I'm leaning towards Campy.

Thanks for your input.

that is a large reason I went with Campy. I knew that when amortized out over the life of the cycle... it wasn't that much more. Good point on repairs... I had forgotten that the others you have to replace the part... probably because I have Campy and thus am like way cool and stuff.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

That's good advice. I'll tell you another good place to buy a bike. Pawn shops in college towns. Juniors affluent parents buy hims a killer bike for commuting to classes and Junior promptly hawks it for beer money.

I tell most people who are interested in getting started to not buy a new bike. They can get more bang for the buck buying a used bike from E-Bay or Craigslist or Pawn Shops. Ebay you have to be patient. You'll find a nice bike and then some idiot with more money than sense will bid more than what it's worth. Then other times you can get them for a real bargain. I bought an old Paramount for $300. Stripped the old parts and rebuilt it with a used set of Ultegra 6600 and a new set of DT Swiss R450 wheels. That's my commuter bike now.

Yeah... I got my pub crawl bike from craigslist. A trek mountain bike that was caked in dirt and looked like shit because the owner had it in his garage for four years. Bought it for $25, cleaned it up... only needed to replace the tires/tubes. Rest of the bike just needed to be f'in cleaned. Otherwise I doubt there was more than a few miles on it (totally judging by the guys extra 200 pounds he was lugging around). It is amazing the shit people buy when they have no real intent on using the item. I prefer craigslist to ebay as you can get far better steals and its local...

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Yeah... I got my pub crawl bike from craigslist. A trek mountain bike that was caked in dirt and looked like shit because the owner had it in his garage for four years. Bought it for $25, cleaned it up... only needed to replace the tires/tubes. Rest of the bike just needed to be f'in cleaned. Otherwise I doubt there was more than a few miles on it (totally judging by the guys extra 200 pounds he was lugging around). It is amazing the shit people buy when they have no real intent on using the item. I prefer craigslist to ebay as you can get far better steals and its local...

I sold my Hybrid I first bought for commuting and then sold it cause it was to freakin heavy on Craigs list. Got what I asked for it too. I'm going to sell one of my Paramounts and use the proceeds to rebuild the other Paramount. I love my Paramount PDG. Was never tempted to buy another bike until my Ultegra components started crapping out. The frame still looks great for a 20 year old bike.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

OK, pulled the trigger today. Ran across a great Craigs list deal. Guy bought his wife a road bike last year. She rode it for fifty miles and decided not to ride anymore. According to him she only rode the bike about 50 miles before throwing in the towel. It was a carbon fiber frame with Campy Athena parts. He got a nice offer for just the frame and sold that. I offered him $500 (and it looks brand new!) for the Athena Carbon groupo last night and he took my offer! Sweet! I just bought a $1,000 plus 2011 Campy groupo for $500!! That means I can really upgrade on the wheels!! I was hesitant to make this purchase cause I really wanted Campy Chorus but I couldn't really see that big a difference between Athena and Chorus and at $500.....I couldn't pass.

What I may do is build my new bike with this group, save some money for Dura Ace or Record components and then rebuild my Paramount with the Athena group.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

OK, pulled the trigger today. Ran across a great Craigs list deal. Guy bought his wife a road bike last year. She rode it for fifty miles and decided not to ride anymore. According to him she only rode the bike about 50 miles before throwing in the towel. It was a carbon fiber frame with Campy Athena parts. He got a nice offer for just the frame and sold that. I offered him $500 (and it looks brand new!) for the Athena Carbon groupo last night and he took my offer! Sweet! I just bought a $1,000 plus 2011 Campy groupo for $500!! That means I can really upgrade on the wheels!! I was hesitant to make this purchase cause I really wanted Campy Chorus but I couldn't really see that big a difference between Athena and Chorus and at $500.....I couldn't pass.

What I may do is build my new bike with this group, save some money for Dura Ace or Record components and then rebuild my Paramount with the Athena group.

Awesome - it's amazing some of the deals you can get on craigslist. You just have to be careful where you meet people. Like if someone says, oh yeah I got this bike you'd love it it's in my basement? Don't go. But you can do well.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I'm down to buying my last three components and I'll be ready to build. I all ready have a stem (easton EC90) and a saddle (Brooks B-17). I just need a seat post, handle bars and wheels and I'm ready to start building it.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

OK, pulled the trigger today. Ran across a great Craigs list deal. Guy bought his wife a road bike last year. She rode it for fifty miles and decided not to ride anymore. According to him she only rode the bike about 50 miles before throwing in the towel. It was a carbon fiber frame with Campy Athena parts. He got a nice offer for just the frame and sold that. I offered him $500 (and it looks brand new!) for the Athena Carbon groupo last night and he took my offer! Sweet! I just bought a $1,000 plus 2011 Campy groupo for $500!! That means I can really upgrade on the wheels!! I was hesitant to make this purchase cause I really wanted Campy Chorus but I couldn't really see that big a difference between Athena and Chorus and at $500.....I couldn't pass.

What I may do is build my new bike with this group, save some money for Dura Ace or Record components and then rebuild my Paramount with the Athena group.

The above illustrates why I love craigslist. Especially for bikes and bike components.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Awesome - it's amazing some of the deals you can get on craigslist. You just have to be careful where you meet people. Like if someone says, oh yeah I got this bike you'd love it it's in my basement? Don't go. But you can do well.

WTF??? A New Yorker with common sense? When the fuck did this happen?

 

[Mott the Hoople]

The above illustrates why I love craigslist. Especially for bikes and bike components.

Yup, can't argue with you. I'm going to get new wheels though. We have a wheel builder in town who is certified as a bike mechanic by the US Olympic training facility in CO. He's famous around here for his hand built wheels. I'm thinking about some Mavic Open Pros with record hubs.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Yup, can't argue with you. I'm going to get new wheels though. We have a wheel builder in town who is certified as a bike mechanic by the US Olympic training facility in CO. He's famous around here for his hand built wheels. I'm thinking about some Mavic Open Pros with record hubs.

That should be a fairly sweet ride when you are done.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Just checked with my wheel builder. Said he could assemble the bike with Mavic Kysrium Elites for $400!! Sweet!

 

[Mott the Hoople]

That should be a fairly sweet ride when you are done.

It should be. I've heard a lot of good things about Reynolds 853 frames.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

It should be. I've heard a lot of good things about Reynolds 853 frames.

you planning some long rides?

 

[Mott the Hoople]

you planning some long rides?

Nothing specific. I'd love to do RAGBRAI one of these years but during the season I mostly do around 100 miles during the week and then I go for long rides on the weekends. I hope to do about a half dozen century rides or so during the season. This one will be my long ride on weekends bike (except bad weather) and I'll ride my Paramount as my commuter bike.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I got my new bike from the shop last night.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

View attachment 1626

I got my new bike from the shop last night.

I love it Mott.

 

[Canceled.2014.1]

View attachment 1626

I got my new bike from the shop last night.

Sweet bike!

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I love it Mott.

Thanks Darla, it's sorta retro but it's a nice ride.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Sweet bike!

Thank you.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

Thanks Darla, it's sorta retro but it's a nice ride.

I think it's sooo nice looking. Enjoy it! I have been riding a lot lately. The weather's been great, have my new bike too...I love it. IT's the best most peaceful feeling in the world to me.