Building A Custom Bike
Building a custom bike can be risky but if you do manage to get through the project without any major hiccups then well worth the risk.
I recently completed my second custom built bike which was a tough project to work on because of the versatilities I wanted from the bikes overall performance.
I ride a lot of street and I wanted this bike to be able to carry me well into extremities of street riding but at the same time be comfortable enough for commuting to and from work everyday. As simple as this sounds a lot of thought had to go into the components I used so that I could ensure that I wouldn't lose either aspect of the bike. The two hardest part of the bike to choose was the Frame and the Chain Set.
Choosing a frame was nail biting in all honestly because this would either make or break the bike. The one problem with a custom bike you don’t get the chance to test ride it before you make your decision. I highly recommend getting some professional help when choosing a frame as I did, at the very least to work through the geometry of the bike to decide how you want it to perform. A typical street rider would have a very low and short frame so that it can be responsive and easy to throw around. However, the more I went in this direction the less comfortable it would become for any kind of normal riding so I had to find a good balance.
As for the Chain set I wanted a good medium range set of gears, something that would withstand a good beating but at the same time remain positive and precise in the shifting. I also wanted smooth and easy gear changes and thought to achieve this I would be looking at the best which I envisioned to be extremely costly. 
In my opinion it’s important not to be afraid to try something a little different. I was sure I needed Shimano everything to get this kind of performance but I think I found a near perfect equivalent.
So after long consideration I decided a Cove Stiffee FR frame would be a brilliant medium between both of my cycle types and to keep the costs down I went for a slightly older frame. I added some slightly over the top Pike Rockshox 454 forks so I could have complete control over how much travel and the type of rebound I wanted. I wasn't sure even up to the last minute what Chain set to go for but I am glad that I chose the Shimano Saint Crank set with the SRAM front and rear mech’s. I saved money that I could use in other areas and managed to get everything I wanted and more from the performance. I knew from the beginning that I was going to have a complete Hope disc set on this bike and as usual they haven’t let me down. 
Everyone comments on my tyres and I think that was the finishing touch to the whole bike. I chose the Maxis Hook Worms because they were strong; in fact I haven’t had a single puncture since I have had them, but more importantly they are brilliant to ride on. They are great street tyres and would recommend them to anyone.
So the best advice i can give to anyone building a custom bike is that do your research first. Know what you want from the bike and research the parts carefully. Its not always about how much money you spend!
