Ever built a no expense spared bike?

[JohnClimber]

Back in the summer of 2007 I rode Jeff Jones 29er Spaceframe at the Single Speed World Champs up in Aviemore. I fell in love with it as soon as I sat on it.
A year later he sent one over to Biff for the UK MTB magazines to test and review, where Steve Worland (RIP) said they it was the best off road rigid bike he had ever ridden.
Biff then offered it for sale on Singletrack magazine and I was lucky enough to see the advert in time and I bought it.

I can't remember the price but it was way more that I could afford, but I had to have it.
Later I put a fat front end on it.

It was a sad day when I have to sell it to fund my car, but it's gone to a good home and it's someone on here who's still giving it hell on the trails.

[Cheeky Monkey]

A Turner 5 Spot years ago, TBH it was probably a fairly average build of Hope and XT stuff. Given I'd read myself into a frenzy with all the reviews at the time I found the ride underwhelming. The Pikes were 454 iirc and were a bit of a PITA to get set right. Got knicked and was more p1ssed off about the Dialled Alpine and Kobe Ti that were also whipped at the same time.

I'll still spend a bit on a nice frame (Ti fetish - though haven't for years) but am fairly ambivalent about wunderbilds. Nowadays I just look at bikes and prices and can't get over how ridiculously expensive they are.

I dont get bikes as coordinated art projects or the chasing of ever lighter or fancier bits. I know some enjoy it but much like weighing gear, I really CBA.

HYOH

[frogatthefarriers]

Nope! And never will.

'Y see! I know B-all about bikes, so if I even wanted to try, I’d be reliant on the opinions of others who (say they) do. The trouble with that, is that everyone has their own ideas on what is the bees knees. Reviews are either from magazines who’ve been sponsored in some indirect way, or by people who’ve already bought the bits and feel they have to justify the the money they’ve spent. I don’t have the funds to buy stuff to see if it works for me and take the hit if it doesn’t. And I’m not altogether sure if I’d even know if it did or didn’t.

I just know that hills are a real bu@@ger. Even if I had put the lightest, bestest bits on the bike, the hills would still be so - just faster(maybe).

All my bikes have been stock buys (I once got sniffed at by a weekend warrior in Llandegla when I didn’t know what tyres I was using) and probably will be in the future. But, if I were to come into a lot of disposable money, I could see myself splashing out on a top-end ready-made bike.

If I could wish for anything biking, it’d be a crack at a bigger trip/adventure - TNR or one of the Caminos, say.

[Cheddar Man]

I have a friend who did this with a road bike. He started it maybe, oh I don't know, 10 years ago?

It is a never ending process of upgrading that he wishes he had never got in to! Don't do it unless you are absolutely sure there are beds in your local psychiatric unit.

His no expense spared bike is actually like Triggers broom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUl6PooveJE

[holdsteady]

my mate did it as a teenager with a BMX (a Haro freestyler frame and forks plus blingiest parts) on his Dad’s credit card - his Dad went bloody mental when he found out, he was grounded for the entire summer and was paying his Dad back for several years

Personally I’ve had builds go hundreds over the initial budget but don’t think I’ve gone
much over £1.2k for a bike,

[TheBrownDog]

Ive built up a Van Nicholas Euros with Campy Record 11, loads of crabon fibree bits and some delicious wheels for sportives and Sunday chaingang rides. It was so comfortable, and so fast.

And a Condor Heritage tourer 26in wheeled luggage beast. XTR all over it and V-brakes with some very strong wheels and top end alu finishing kit. This was probably the bike i should have had for my two big trips back in the late 80's.

Both were remarkable bikes and stupidly expensive. I'd never bother again, not when a lower end groupo delivers 95% of the performance for 50% of the cost, or less. Plus, Im not in that much of a hurry anymore.

[Boab]

By the time I could afford it, spending £10,000 - £15,000 on a bike would be pointless, as I'll be too knackered to ride it.

[psling]

I've spaffed a lot of money on bikes but never gone the full "no expense spared".
I had a Dean Colonel ti ss frame made in 2002/2003 and built it up with CK, Thomson & Middleburn. Cost a lot, still ride it regularly (has done a couple of BB Winter Events), it's hanging on the back of the van right now.
Also bought a Litespeed Ultimate road bike once, full Campag carbon when carbon was fairly new. Sold it because the bike was better than me, I wasn't a good enough rider to justify it in my head!
Over the years I've been lucky enough to spend money on quality kit and a lot of it I still have and still ride. Three of my regular rides are over 15 years old

[psling]

Back in the summer of 2007 I rode Jeff Jones 29er Spaceframe at the Single Speed World Champs up in Aviemore. I fell in love with it as soon as I sat on it.

I think there were quite a few of us pedalled that bike up and down the promenade in Aviemore! It was indeed a beautiful ride

[redefined_cycles]

I keep thinking about these rims (they'd be my no expense spared as I doubt I could afford owt more due to my bad money management) for my lightweight road-commuter build

36mm deep rear and 46mm front

https://www.lightbicycle.com/Road-bicyc ... lable.html

[Alpinum]

Anyway, I wondered if anyone had ever gone completely mad and built a no expense spared bike and also, did it live up to their expectations?

Yes and yes.

I must add that I didn't just get the most expensive stuff available, but what I thought was the best for me, not caring about how much I was going to spend. For the sake of a brand I'm not paying 200.- for eg a bar if another company makes a very similar one (geometry, weight) for 150.-

The few bikes which I built up like this were spot on from the very beginning. The others needed to 'grow' into this spot, which sometimes would take two years, since I mostly change part when the break.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I keep thinking about these rims (they'd be my no expense spared as I doubt I could afford owt more due to my bad money management) for my lightweight road-commuter build

The question I'd ask myself Shaf (and I'm by no means second guessing your answer) would be, will those rims significantly increase my enjoyment or happiness for the foreseeable future? You do need to be brutally honest when giving your answer though.

[Alpinum]

By the time I could afford it, spending £10,000 - £15,000 on a bike would be pointless, as I'll be too knackered to ride it.

Despite having owned and still owning bikes which are worth north of 8000 gbp as in walk into a shop, get the all the parts for a regular price and build it up, I never had to pay more than 5500 gbp. Keeping an eye open, asking for better prices etc.
But then wages are different in the UK than in Switzerland.
It's quite common to see top of the line bikes here. And now all the even more expensive e-bikes...
Crazy when you think you can buy a Tibetan refugee a Nepali citizenship for about 1000 usd and change his/her life for ever.
Much less and you can give a kid the chance to go to school in a developing country.
Etc.

[fatbikephil]

When I got the Jones off Dave at bothy bikes in Aviemore and I was moaning about how expensive it was (he did me a very good deal) he told me how many no expense spared builds go through his shop. Roughly one every couple of weeks (this was 2017) - SC bronsons being the must have at the time - but all getting specced with sram eagle, hope brakes, best of gear placcy bars, seat pins etc. All £5k - £10k bikes and all being bought by (mainly) middle aged blokes like me.....

[ton]

i would like to add, that buying the most lusted after expensive bike you can afford, does not always turn out a good exercise .
i lusted after a Jones too, for years. when i could afford one, i bought it, fitted out with good old XT.

to this date, it is the most disappointing bike i have ever owned. ( and boy there have been lots.)

[redefined_cycles]

I keep thinking about these rims (they'd be my no expense spared as I doubt I could afford owt more due to my bad money management) for my lightweight road-commuter build

The question I'd ask myself Shaf (and I'm by no means second guessing your answer) would be, will those rims significantly increase my enjoyment or happiness for the foreseeable future? You do need to be brutally honest when giving your answer though.

Thanks Stu (and Gian on the comment of 'giving charity' but maybe not in them words). Main aim is to get some aero gains and go lighweight. Since main aero gains (negligible though they may be) are upfront I've decided to do this.


Already have a Hed Belgium Plus rim in 24h flavour so will build that carefully to a sub 800g rear wheel. For which I actually only need to buy spokes and if I get some alloy nipples they'll crack before the superlight edco hub peels.

Instead of buying a pair of carbon rims I'll just get a super deep (well 56mm) front rim instead. Win win...

I shall be back here during my next dilemma when I need some wise wisdom words (I know you didn't say to just get the one rim Stu, but you just saved me over £150 regardless of which some pounds can go to my 'Yemen hunger crisis' fundraiser instead

Thanks again

[BreninBeener]

I think i have a no expense spared bike. Its from about 12 years ago. Its a Moots PsychloX.
It has a Ti frame, Moots Ti stem and Ti seatpost. It has Chris King hubs, BB and headset. The groupset is 10sp DA 7900. It has TRP EuroX cantis. It has a spare set of training wheels that also have a DA cassette.
It wasnt bought new by me, but came to me recently.
I have to say it is totally fantastic. I have a lot of bikes and its my total fave.
Ian

[Bearbonesnorm]

Glad to be of service Shaf

Obviously what Tony says up there is often quite true. In my time I've had some nice bikes (not as many as Tony mind) yet my fondest memories have absolutely nothing to do with what bike I was riding. In fact, they're really to do with everything but the bike - the people, places, sights and sounds. The bike was simply a tool that allowed me to access them.

[Alpinum]

In fact, they're really to do with everything but the bike - the people, places, sights and sounds. The bike was simply a tool that allowed me to access them.

Then why bother biking, just go hiking

Of course my Mum is right saying that a bad workman blames his tools, which is equal to 'blaming' one's tools for lovely trips, but if you have a weak, constantly failing bike or a superbly setup no expenses spared bike... well, I'm sure this has an effect on everyone's trip, no matter how romantic one is.
I've had defects which were bad enough to stop me from finishing a certain trip. Well chosen bikeparts tend to keep me longer away from defects.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Then why bother biking, just go hiking

Of course my Mum is right saying that a bad workman blames his tools, which is equal to 'blaming' one's tools for lovely trips, but if you have a weak, constantly failing bike or a superbly setup no expenses spared bike... well, I'm sure this has an effect on everyone's trip, no matter how romantic one is.
I've had defects which were bad enough to stop me from finishing a certain trip. Well chosen bikeparts tend to keep me longer away from defects.

I think you're being somewhat pedantic there Gian. I never said or implied that any of the bikes were defective or fitted with poor parts that were likely to break, simply that the bike had little bearing on my enjoyment ... I've enjoyed trips where I've ridden a bike costing £500 just as much as I have riding one that cost 2k.

[Alpinum]

I'm just taking it apart to show you that the bikes do have an impact.

I only used the constantly failing bike (been there, done that) vs. the super duper bike as a reference of extremes. The closer to the middle, the lesser bikes make a difference to a trip, which is where I guess you're taking your statement from.

[TheBrownDog]

Crazy when you think you can buy a Tibetan refugee a Nepali citizenship for about 1000 usd and change his/her life for ever. Much less and you can give a kid the chance to go to school in a developing country. Etc.

Fella is there somewhere we can support this in any way? Must be.

[Alpinum]

Fella is there somewhere we can support this in any way? Must be.

Wasn't my idea to campaign for Tibet, but here you go:

https://savetibet.org/support-tibet/

https://tibetfreunde.ch/en/

[Teetosugars]

Yup.
Santa Cruz Heckler.
Full XTR
FOX 36s
Hope bling,
Thomson finishing kit..

Back in the day a large frame was 19” with a 22” Top Tube..
No matter what I did, I couldn’t make - it fit it just felt wrong.
Sat on it, not in it, if tat makes sense.

Hated it, so never rode it, sold it far too late, but hey.. it did go.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Had a Superlight (after I bust an Orange Sub5) and that was very similar. Tall ST, short TT. Was surprising as so many people seemed to ave about them. Was a nice enough ride but when I got something a bit longer and lower it was a revelation.