Back in the 2000s, riders would often buy a frame and build it up with their choice of parts. That way, you dodged the outdated cockpit kit and cheap tyres that came on most complete bikes, could fit components better suited to your style of riding (in the UK, often a single chainring) and, if you were canny with your purchases, might even save a little money.
But then manufacturers caught up and started fitting wider bars, shorter stems, better rubber and 1x drivetrains, so that most new bikes were pretty sorted. Add to that the rise of online ‘direct-sale’ brands, which brought prices down, and suddenly ‘self-builds’ didn’t make so much sense. Or at least, not from a financial standpoint.
Is that still the case, though, or with all…
