First road bike - buy or build?

[Haakon]

Looking at getting my very first roadie (notwithstanding the 1970s Peugeot 10 speed racer I rescued from a hard rubbish day ), and have narrowed down my choice of new bike to a Giant Defy Composite 2.

Very nice looking machine, just "felt right" to me on test rides compared to specialised, merida, Bianchi etc. at that price point. Seems a good quality frame, Tiagra stuff will do me fine.

The alternative is getting one of those slick looking carbon frames from Aliexpress, and building a disc brake roadie myself. BB7 SL looks the ducks nuts (and still run the original Avid cables on my commuter MTB, great brakes), some light CX wheels and a Tiagra group would see me denting the credit card not much more than the Giant.

Have riding/building/maintaing MTBs for 20 + years, so no technical restraints.

My current thinking is buy one first, then work out a) if I like roadies enough to use it properly, b) what style/type of roadie suits me. Then build one. Sane approach..?

[Mulger bill]

If you're OK on the tools and the financial numbers are dancing to your tune then why not buy a box of bits and go nuts? Great fun.

Until the long anticipated weekend off arrives. You bounce out of bed, smile through your weeties and coffee, dress and head to the shed. 10minutes later you discover you forgot to get a star nut for the fork

[gpz1100]

I agree,if youv'e got the right workshop and gear to do the build yourself,defenately have a lash.nothing like using your own hands to put something together.It is empowering and as men,we need and must do this sort of thing.Make sure youv'e got some nice cold beer in the fridge for when youve perform these duties.

[geraldobeavis]

Buy the giant and build the disc brake roadie!

[Haakon]

Buy the giant and build the disc brake roadie!

Whilst not exactly helping the financial argument, its sorta the way I'm leaning I think! Start at the start with the whole roadie thing, on a relatively known quantity. Learn my way around them, then build a better bike if it comes to that.

Or something...

[geraldobeavis]

On a more serious note, if you have test rode several bikes and the giant has come out on top, then it is a no brainer. That frame has received good reviews and Giant have a decent reputation with their warranties.

If you go down this path with the safe purchase, it allows you to be a bit more daring with the n+1, while spreading out the build and cost out lay for parts. You could just buy the parts progressively as they are on special, you may end up with a better build than what you planned for now.

[jaseyjase]

also, seeing as your mechanical capable, you can always split the bikes when/if you need to get cash back, taking less of a hit then trying to sell complete.

[Haakon]

Sigh. Finances took a hit elsewhere, not buying 'nuffin right now...

Build bit by bit it it is then So far I have pedals and a stem

[cyclebee]

A good 2nd hand Alu-Carbon combo, with good parts, may be the go...

[Xplora]

buy it. trust me.