Buying Bicycle Parts..Frustrating! Need Your Feedback

[red-beard]

Todd, you can always buy the special tools!

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Todd, you can always buy the special tools!

Have you priced facing tools? Or headset presses? I'm not paying hundreds of $$$ for something that I use every once in awhile...

[red-beard]

I'm about to drop some serious money on a good truing stand. I can do a good job with the brakes, but I can do a better job with a proper truing stand.

[slow&rusty]

yup good feedback gang and not too worry I was not scanning Craigslist to buy used shorts or a helmet...I thought maybe there might be someone with an abadoned project and selling a set of Time pedals etc..was just curio with good ole Craigs.

Thanks for all the helpful links!
Yasin

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Do you have any decent local shops? I'd try to patronize them if you can. For shoes there is no way i'd buy without trying them on, and I refuse to try them on at brick and mortar then walk home and buy them online to save a few bucks.

Plus if you establish a relationship with your local shop it can help you in the long run. I do all my own work except for things that require special tools. I can go to my local shop and they will do things quickly and often for little $.

Best advise of the thread!!!!!!

[911pcars]

eBay. I'm frugal, but watch out. Sometimes the stuff isn't cheaper than over-the-counter.

One of my eBay purchases was a set of 6 gently used Conti Gran Prix tires from a racer who had a 100 mi. on each. Bought them for about the cost of a new tire.

Shoes will be the biggest expense, and yes, I'd try them on first. They're that important.

Sherwood

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I'm about to drop some serious money on a good truing stand. I can do a good job with the brakes, but I can do a better job with a proper truing stand.

Check this bad boy out!

[Stanley]

Keep and eye out on bonktown.com install the desktop alert thing if you don't mind a small pop up in the bottom right corner when a new deal comes along. Their main site is realcyclist.com. I've spent a couple hundred on the backcountry.com deal sites in the past year. Everything they sell they guaranty with a lifetime warranty (just like REI).

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Check this bad boy out!

That's a beefy historical stand. Nice find.

My poor man's truing stand consisted of using the bike fork to rotate the wheel and a 0-1" dial indicator and mag stand on a jack stand positioned next to the wheel. If the fork is held firmly, the indicator can get the wheel pretty close. I get to within 0.010" before I call it quits.

Sherwood

[look 171]

Sherwood my old Barrister buddy,

If you ever need a bike tool or a hand, I've got em. You are more then welcom to borrow them. If not, I can borrow from Open Road. He owes me big time. I have one of those stupid professional Park truing stand that's been sitting and collecting dust for the most part of the past 15 years. I haven't build or ture any wheels for that long. I take my little kids to see my parents a couple of times a week. They are right off Fremont and Huntington, so its no trouble at all. Can't say I like working on my 911 ( I don't) but a road I really enjoy fuzzing with it.

Jeff

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by look 171

Sherwood my old Barrister buddy,

If you ever need a bike tool or a hand, I've got em. You are more then welcom to borrow them. If not, I can borrow from Open Road. He owes me big time. I have one of those stupid professional Park truing stand that's been sitting and collecting dust for the most part of the past 15 years. I haven't build or ture any wheels for that long. I take my little kids to see my parents a couple of times a week. They are right off Fremont and Huntington, so its no trouble at all. Can't say I like working on my 911 ( I don't) but a road I really enjoy fuzzing with it.

Jeff

Yo Jeff,
thanks for the offer. I'll keep that in mind. In the meantime, I'll try to keep the wheels straight (err, true) and stay off the curbs. Too many visits with a trueing jig should tell me something.

Sherwood

[slow&rusty]

Hi Gang - Well I wanted to let you know that I bought all the parts (except the shoes, which I will buy locally to ensure perfect fit) last night. I bought all the items from eBikestop (thanks for that awesome link Red Beard!).

I got the following from eBikestop (all new parts) - cool website as well:
1) Bell Helmet
2) A good pair of gloves
3) One pair of shorts
4) 2 Michelin tires
5) 3 Michelin tubes
6) Cateye Wireless computer
7) Mini aluminum Zefal pump
All for $165 shipped! They have a price match (or beat option) when you check-out so long as you provide the name and http link to the competitors. It is awesome.

I also was able to win an eBay auction for a pair of new Time pedals and cleats for $100 (regularly sell for $175+)...I was jazzed about that!

Thanks again for all the help and I really feel jazzed about the great deal I got and getting back on the bike.

Yasin

[red-beard]

Yasin,

I took my 1989 Trek 400 and rebuilt it last year. It is my training/backup bike. The only thing left original now, is the frame. Shimano 105 all around (including wheels), CF seat Post, CF front fork, CF handle bars and a new adjustable "headset". I think I have under $1000 into the parts, but I have a brand new bike, better than most of the new ones out there.

Oh, and I used CF not for weight savings, but for reducing the amount of transmitted vibration from the frame.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Yasin,

I took my 1989 Trek 400 and rebuilt it last year. It is my training/backup bike. The only thing left original now, is the frame. Shimano 105 all around (including wheels), CF seat Post, CF front fork, CF handle bars and a new adjustable "headset". I think I have under $1000 into the parts, but I have a brand new bike, better than most of the new ones out there.

Oh, and I used CF not for weight savings, but for reducing the amount of transmitted vibration from the frame.

VERY Cool James...I can see my upgrading my Cannondale over time as well, as it has some older components on it. I am so impressed with eBikestop, I am VERY happy that you sent me that link...VERY happy....many thanks!

I will have to buy you a drink or two...especially as I am local to you now in Houston. Just need to move the rest of my junk down from CO incl. the air-cooler! Soooon.

My best - Yasin

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

VERY Cool James...I can see my upgrading my Cannondale over time as well, as it has some older components on it. I am so impressed with eBikestop, I am VERY happy that you sent me that link...VERY happy....many thanks!

I will have to buy you a drink or two...especially as I am local to you now in Houston. Just need to move the rest of my junk down from CO incl. the air-cooler! Soooon.

My best - Yasin

If you want to get back into biking, plan on signing up for the BP-MS150, Houston to Austin ride. It will be April 17-18th, 2010. It is 170-180 miles, over 2 days.

Depending on where you are in Houston, there are lots of riding groups to join. One meets every Saturday morning, northwest of Houston, for a "standard" ride of 43 miles, but with mapped routes from 20-70. Riders of every level are there, so you find a group to fit. And, during the MS150 training season, 300+ people will be there!

Northwest Cycling Club - Biking, riding and a whole lot of fun. mountain biking, mtb, road racing in the greater houston area.

If you are in town with the bike November 1st, there is Tour de Donut. It has 2 rides: 28 mile "Donut Eating" timed race and a 55 mile training ride.

2009 Tour de Donut Introduction

On the race, for every donut you eat, they take 5 min off your time. The winner last year finshed with an official time of -15 minutes, after eating something like 25 donuts!

There is an organized charity ride virtually every week. This weekend, I'll be doing to "monaville" ride, which is 35 miles each way, starting from my house. I may not be fast, but I can ride for hours.