In case you haven’t thought of this before, you should know there are plenty of good reasons why, when interested to buy a new bike, to consider a custom build bike as well. I mean why just settle for off-the-rack when you can actually opt for choosing each part of your bike so that the final result would suit your tastes, desires and of course the budget as well?!

The thing is that this way the buyer has the opportunity to decide on the priority for the build–be, if it is the latest technology, aerodynamics, weight, value for money, or even a specific era–and then selects each part according to these aspirations.

In the past, bike riders looking for a custom-build bike, relied very much on a good bike shop in order to obtain all the parts they wanted; nowadays the internet provides a virtual menu where buyers can easily research and buy (from the comfort of an office chair or from home) all the parts they need in order to build a custom-build bike.

The truth is that half the satisfaction with building a custom-bike is researching and collecting all the parts you wish for.

The clear starting point for any custom-build is the frameset because it serves as the ‘core’ of the bicycle and offers a pattern to guide the actual build.

The new electronic shifting however makes the frame choice a little difficult since unique fittings are required to install the battery and wiring, and is the one instance where the choice of groupset has an influence on the design of the frame.

The fittings as the fiddly bits - are required to attach all the parts to the frameset. This includes the headset, bottom bracket, seat post clamp, front derailleur band, cable bosses, fork inserts, and cable guides. Sometimes these bits can be difficult to get and will delay final assembly so it’s best to attend to them as soon as possible.

As far as groupsets go, some time ago a groupset described a huge ensemble of components, however in the recent years it has been pared to the essentials: brake/gear levers, derailleurs, cranks, chain, cassette and brake calipers.

Concerning the wheels there are two big decisions to be made about the selection of the wheels: first of all, the favored tyre system (clincher, tubular or tubeless), and second, factory- versus custom-built wheels.

Another detail to attend to is to make sure that the freehub body is compatible with the groupset you intend to be using.

Contact points

• The stem - has two diameters, one for the forks, and the other for the bars. The majority of threadless forks have a diameter of 1.125″ and stems to suit these forks are widely available.
• Handlebars - vary in width and the shape of the drop. The choice of width is in fact a matter of choice, however in most cases narrow bars are better suited to riders with small builds and narrow shoulders.
• Seatpost - the diameter of the seatpost has to match the internal diameter of the seat tube accurately (a difference of 0.1mm is significant). Posts vary in their length and by how much the seat clamp is offset from the centreline of the post.
• Saddle - saddle choice is a matter of personal choice and one size usually fits all.
• Pedals - like with saddles, selecting an appropriate pedal is a matter of preference since one thread size fits all road cranksets.
• Tyres - just match the tyre system to the rims. Most road frames will accommodate tyres up to 25mm wide; make sure to check the frameset specifications if you’re thinking of running wider tyres. Also make sure the valve stems for the tyres/tubes suit the depth of the rims.

As far as the finishing touches go, there are plenty of ways to add a personal touch to a custom-build bicycle and it’s worth taking some time to establish these last rather important details, like: custom paint, bar tape, upholstery, bottle cages, custom name stickers, etc

Also, it’s worth working on it yourself, if you have some aptitude for mechanics as there’s great satisfaction in building your own bike. Of course you can ask for the help of a mechanic to take care of any jobs that may require specialized tools. Then, check it over, and take care of any fine tuning at the end.

Enjoy!

Tell us how it went, in the comments below. Also, if you have any questions you would like to ask us, feel free to do so.