It started out as a winter project. How was I ever to learn how to build a bike if I didn’t just build one myself? I had the privilege of watching my boyfriend build his own bike the winter before, and once I saw the finished product, I knew it was something I had to try. This was no small feat for a first timer. There were many many nights of procrastination simply because I was intimidated by what was ahead of me ( ahem…see wheel-building post). What if I failed at building this and I just had a lonely frame set sitting in my apartment collecting dust? (I could have easily seen that happen) While I understand bicycles to be simple machines relatively, I also understand that this is mostly new territory for me. My commuter bike is a single speed and the only other work I had ever done on bikes up until this point was changing flats and replacing brake cables and housing. So, to that nagging trepidation talking, I said “scare schmared, let’s build this baby.”
Anyways, here is the story via a photo gallery and captions of the project almost entirely step-by-step (I left out one of the more difficult pieces of the process which is derailleur adjusting –woopsies–but I will say that I needed some help in the finer tuning step because I just couldn’t get the shifting to stop skipping a cog…I learned so much for this minor bump in the road).
I really can’t take all the credit for building this bike. It took a ton of instruction, guidance and encouragement from my boyfriend. I couldn’t have done this without him. For that, I say “Thank you, Andrew! You’re a great teacher! <3” I also have to thank my amazing father for adding his signature to this bike. He custom painted the front fork and did a breathtaking job to boot. I want everyone to know how talented he is. “I love you Papa!”
Here she is. Avocado is settling into her new home quite nicely. I named her Avocado because of her lovely green accents and after my favorite food. The love runs deep.
My dad is the most incredible artisan that I know. He custom painted my front fork. He laid all of the pin striping BY HAND. He’s incredible and I’m so thankful that his handy work is on this bike. It makes the bike all the more special. I learned just how skilled my dad is through this experience. He is THE MAN. Thanks Papa!!
You need a special cassette tool to do this. If feels wasteful to buy one, so if you want to do this yourself, ask a friend to lend you one (IMO)
Cassette is installed. These wheels were a true test in patience and precision. That involves an entirely separate post all together.
I’m a bit intimidated at this point. Once I get started, though, I realize installing the components is probably the most straight forward part of the whole bike-building process. I just had to go for it to figure that out.
Don’t even get me started on these. I felt like the biggest failure installing these brakes all because the manufacturer switched the brake pads on me. It took a bit of a meltdown and lots of comforting to get me to work more on my bike after this. I have a feeling it’s incredibly rare for a manufacturer to switch the brake pads like that, but just know that is could happen to YOU. *sniffles*
These newer shifters/brake levels hide their screws very well. It took me a bit to figure out where to loosen the rings to put them on the handlebars. They were WAY under the hood.
That was the easy(ish) part. Now it’s time to install the cables and housing and do the adjustments and fine tuning (scary! I have never done this before)
First time fully installing cantilever brakes! I hope I did it right! (according to my amazingly helpful boyfriend, I did it right)
Here I’m setting the rear brake cables making sure I have the right amount of tension.
These “brifters” (shifter/break level combo) are tricky. In this photo I’m trying to figure out where to run the shifter cable. It’s not incredible straight forward.
I’m running the shifter housing after cutting it to be sure it’s the right length.
Now I have to to the fine tuning and adjustment of tension for the brakes and the derailleur*.
to cover the shifters.
It took me a couple of tries to make sure I had enough on the ends for the end cap. That’s important to note before you get too far in, FYI.
now I just need to tape them off with finishing tape (aka electrical tape).
The finished product. Technically I ran the tape on the left side incorrectly, but I didn’t have the heart to re-wrap again. I feel pretty good about it, and I learned for next time.
Weeeeeeee!
All I have left are the fenders and the front and rear rack. This baby is going to the Pacific Northwest for some touring and exploring 🙂
Amazing job Daniela!!! Avocado looks beutiful or I should call her Agua-Cate?
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