Finished Bike Build
(Building a Road Bike, Part 1: Why?)
It took me much longer to get around to Part 2 than expected, and so it is going to be a bit shorter than I originally intended. However, I think this will make my explanation on “How?” more concise and poignant.
The first thing I did, having no experience with building a road bike, was a lot of research. I compiled a list of parts and the tools that would be necessary to install them. There are three advantages to doing this:
- you determine what your budget looks like prior to buying your equipment,
- it reduces the potential for unwelcome surprises, and
- you have a list of all your parts that you can refer back to in case you need to replace them.
Second, I researched proper sizing and technical details on my list of parts. For this I used Google to look around for best practices on sizing, and also referred to some guides (such as Bicycle Maintenance & Repair, by Todd Downs). One thing that was important to remember is that there are a lot of “rules of thumb” when it comes to sizing, but it comes down to comfort.
Third, because I decided to buy most of my parts and tools online (better discounts) I bought them through a retailer that also has physical stores in Chicago. Because some of my sizing questions were not easily answered online (stem length) or would have been more difficult to do myself (cutting the steerer tube and installing shifting/brake cables), having a local bike store to turn to was really helpful.
Finally, putting my bike together was a process of details. I made sure I read the instructions that came with every piece of equipment. This allowed me to double check for any discrepancies between OEM installation instructions and best practices suggested online and in bicycling guides.
Be forewarned: patience is required. I did have to return a couple items after deciding they weren’t the right size for me. Thus, expect there to be a delay in building your bike. If you aren’t doing it for the enjoyment of the process, you might want to consider going to your local bike shop and getting a ready-to-ride bike. Don’t forget your helmet.
A couple websites I found quite useful at the time were:
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Bike the Drive 2011
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Tags: Active Transportation Alliance, Bicycling, Bike the Drive, Chicago, injury
Categories:Commentary, News, Reviews
Although thunderstorms were in the forecast, the inclement weather held off just long enough for Bike the Drive. The heavy fog created an otherworldly feel down Lake Shore Drive and created a beautiful landscape to bike through. The Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry both looked quite amazing engulfed in the fog, and were my favorite sights of the south route (I didn’t get a chance to ride the north route). All in all, the ride was quite pleasant. (more…)