MTB / Tourer Dilemma

t1mm

Hi there,

I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands and was hoping for some wise words from the more experienced cyclists out there. I'm building a touring bike for myself and trying to keep costs down as much as possible. I've bought the following (used) parts thus far:

• Frame: Cube Acid 2011
• Handlebars

I have come to the realization however that picking up used bargains will take months and months (during which I could be training!), and buying all new components will end up costing me more than a new bike on its own!

I've spotted an ad for a used one of these online for 250ish euro:
http://nigelscycles.com/store/bikes/mountain_bikes/post/lapierre_tecnic_200_leisure_bike_11

I was thinking of buying it and using the parts. The problems, however:

• Brakes: I'm going to buy some hydraulic disk brakes seperately anyway.
• Front Mech: The clamp size is different to the one used originally on my Cube Frame.
• Gear Shifters: These are integrated with the existing mech. disk brakes (which I will be replacing with my hydraulic ones). This is a problem as 8speed gear levers don't seem to be very common anymore.
• Seatpost: Different circumference. Negligible but I thought I'd mention it.

Do you think it's worth my while buying this bike given the cost of the front mech and shifters I'll have to replace, or do you reckon I should hold off for something else? I'll be replacing the tires and saddle by the way.

I think I have all bases covered here, but I'd be delighted if you could point out any errors in my ways!

All help much appreciated

Cheers!

FirstinLastout

Brakes: I'm going to buy some hydraulic disk brakes seperately anyway.

As it's a tourer you're building up I'd recommend you having a look at Avid BB7 mechanicals. Nearly every bit as effective as many fluid systems but more reliable & simpler to repair while on the road.

t1mm

Thanks for the advice FirstinLastout. I'll reconsider the brakes situation. Do you have any other suggestions as to my situation? Cheers

Coronal

So, essentially you'll be taking the rear mech, chainset, and wheels from this one, right? Maybe some bits of finishing kit like the stem, but even that may be the wrong size for the Acid. Would you also be taking the forks, or are you getting rigid ones for touring? Including the use of forks, you might make a saving.

It may also need new tyres (indeed, you may want skinnier slicks for road touring) and the same for the cassette and maybe chainrings - depends on how much use it's seen. You might not end up saving as much as you'd hope, unfortunately. Maybe try dropping into Rothar in Phibsboro and see what they have? It may be mostly very old parts, though, it's been a long time since I was in.

t1mm

Thanks for your reply Coronal!

Yep, as long as the forks have lock out I'd probably hang onto them. Does the stem's size not just depend on the steerer tube diameter and the handlebar diameter? I'll probably get schwalbe marathon tyres or something too, btw. Does the step not just depend on the steerer tube and handlebar diameters?

Do you reckon I'd be better off waiting for another used bike to come along to take parts off? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Coronal

The size yes, as in whether or not it'll fit on the bike, but it may not fit you. That's dependent on the frame, the headtube length, etc.

Hard to know. What I did when I had the same decisions to make last year was spend ages shopping around for new parts to get the cheapest prices. The whole thing still worked out to be quite expensive, but the bulk of that was the frame and fork combo (Surly LHT). I also went for fancy expensive orange cabling and bar tape, but that was extravagance on my part. Buying new shifters and brake levers for MTBs shouldn't cost that much, and lower end MTB derailleurs don't cost that much new.

If you can look at the bike and judge how worn the parts on it are, then you can make a better call. It is a nice idea, I think. I suppose wheels, rear mech, and fork for 250 isn't bad, assuming all these parts are in good working order. I don't now what that fork goes for new, or whether you could find one easily. Wheels would be around 100, rear mech 20 or so, both new.

t1mm

Thanks again for your help Nice fork + frame combo btw, if only I had the money!

The main pulling factor for a used bike is the wheels to be honest - a new set seems to cost a huge amount. What kind of a set would you buy for 100 euros, have you got any links? If I could get a set of decent wheels for 100 I think I'd just buy the parts new to be honest!

Coronal

I bought this set, I think: http://www.bike24.de/1.php?lang=2;content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,140,17;product=3276;mid=0;pgc=5240:5241::72:247;page=1 and they've been pretty bombproof so far. I've mostly used them coming to work, but that's on a dirt path alongside a river and they haven't yet gone out of true.

They don't have the disc brake version in stock, but somewhere like sjscycles might; they have all sorts of bits and pieces like that, and usually not for terrible monies. Or email bike24, they're pretty decent in general and might be getting them back in stock.

Best of luck with it!

t1mm

Lovely, thanks for the link! I've only really been looking at wheels on ChainReactionCycles, and they're much more expensive than those you linked. Maybe I'll consider building it from scratch again

Thanks again!