Bike Building Project

Chips Lovell

Hi folks,
I've decided to do a couple of bike builds this year and thought I'd post about it. This is the first one, which is going to be a bike for my better half. It's a Cinelli Xperience, alumuinum frame with carbon forks. While I've stripped down my own bike before, this is the first time I've built up a frame from scratch, so it should be an interesting learning experience. So far all I've done is get the steering tube cut and the threads chased.

I'll post more pics when its built up.

TinyExplosions

This could be very interesting to see the process through.

Lovin the shot of the frame on your balcony

Chips Lovell

Yeah, I've a limited work space. Got a good bit of work done on it today. Not finished yet though.

E@gle.

im planning on a bike build myself as i have to learn about bike building, anyone recommend any good reading for tips and advice

Hermy

E@gle. wrote: »

im planning on a bike build myself as i have to learn about bike building, anyone recommend any good reading for tips and advice

The Harris Cyclery and Park Tool websites are definitely worth a look and two books I found useful:

Haynes Bike Book

The Long Distance Cyclists Handbook

Chips Lovell

E@gle. wrote: »

im planning on a bike build myself as i have to learn about bike building, anyone recommend any good reading for tips and advice

The only bike maintenance book I've got is in Spanish (long story). I've learned most from the web. Like Hermy I'd recommend Sheldon Brown (Harris Cyclery) and Park. The bike maintenance forum on bikeforums.net is pretty good too.

fergalr

So far all I've done is get the steering tube cut and the threads chased.

The BB threads chased? Just curious, did you do this yourself - if so, have you spent a lot on tools?

Chips Lovell

fergalr wrote: »

The BB threads chased? Just curious, did you do this yourself - if so, have you spent a lot on tools?

Nope, I dropped it into a shop to get it done. Tapping and facing kit costs around €700, which is just too much for something you're only going to be doing once in a blue moon.

Chips Lovell

Finished it within a few days, but only getting around to taking pics of it now:

penexpers

nice job. lovely looking bike.

blorg

Hmm. I think I see where your Wilier's bits went now ;-)

Nice bike, good result.

TinyExplosions

blorg wrote: »

Hmm. I think I see where your Wilier's bits went now ;-)

It's the usual isn't it... "hey honey, I'm going to make you up a really nice bike, because I love you and you're worth it", then out you go, upgrade your ride and give her the old stuff

beans

Nice bike, along with the Bianchi and the Wilier you've a fine stable on the trot.

Can I ask did you do everything yourself, or draft in some assistance with the likes of bottom brackets and headsets?

Caroline_ie

Nice looking bike

Chips Lovell

Thanks all

blorg wrote: »

Hmm. I think I see where your Wilier's bits went now ;-)

Blorg: internet detective

TinyExplosions wrote: »

It's the usual isn't it... "hey honey, I'm going to make you up a really nice bike, because I love you and you're worth it", then out you go, upgrade your ride and give her the old stuff

Heh. It was the other way around. Had the parts lying around for a while and was thinking about eBaying them when she said she wouldn't mind a road bike.

beans wrote: »

Can I ask did you do everything yourself, or draft in some assistance with the likes of bottom brackets and headsets?

On the Cinelli, I got a shop to face the bottom bracket and cut the steering tube, but did everything else. With the Pista (posted in the Images of Beauty thread) I went a step further and cut the steerer myself.