Build or buy?

[smifffymoto]

I have a couple of bikes in the shed with a mix of 105,Ultegra,Alivio and can't decide wether to build up a frameset or buy a new bike.

I have no particular wish for any particular bike but fancy trying a steel frame this time around.Is it wise or is carbon still the favoured material?

[13m]

smifffymoto said:

I have a couple of bikes in the shed with a mix of 105,Ultegra,Alivio and can't decide wether to build up a frameset or buy a new bike.

I have no particular wish for any particular bike but fancy trying a steel frame this time around.Is it wise or is carbon still the favoured material?

A long time ago I was in your position with MTBs. I got Chas Roberts to build me a steel custom frame and I built my components onto it. To some degree he was able to adapt the build to what I was hanging off it.

It cost me more than an excellent off-the-peg bike would have, but it was (IS actually as I still have it) a peach of a thing to ride.

[SteveSteveson]

Building yourself will probably cost more, especially if you don't have all the tools already, but you get the satisfaction of not only getting exactly the bike you want but also of the building the bike.