So I want a Felt cruiser, but nothing in the current line really speaks to me, and there isn't much available used, so I figure I will build my own. I'm 6'-3" and about 200 lbs, with 35 inch inseam and want to build the bike to fit me.
Main goals:
1) Be comfortable to ride.
2) Look awesome.
3) Not be ridiculously expensive (try to stay below $1K USD before paint).
First off I'm not asking to be spoon-fed, but it's been a looong time (~25 years) since I had a bike, so I'm way out of the scene and don't know many of the suppliers, details, etc. My last bike was a Blue Max Mongoose with aluminum spider mags in the early 80's
Here's what I was thinking:
Felt Canvas frame kit
Brooks saddle (which model for my size and to fit Joker playback post?)
Joker layback seat post
Multi-speed rear hub
Triple tree front fork setup
Front disk brake
Wide wheels (50mm+?) and fat blackwall tires (3" Fatty-O's maybe?)
Undecided rear brake setup
That's about what I *think* I want for now. I don't know enough about cranks, pedals, headsets, bars or grips to make an informed decision. Oh, I need help on main sprocket sizing also. Pretty much flat around the neighborhood where we will mostly ride.
The "style" I'm going for is sort of "tough", crossed with laid back. Sort of modern motorcycle/mountain bike crossed with old-school cruiser. For colors I was thinking a striking monochromatic blue frame, maybe BMW Laguna Seca Blue. Or leave the frame raw aluminum and just wax it well. Unpolished or polished aluminum wheels with black tires, maybe red stripes on the tires. Maybe red wheels if no red on tires. Silver/polished cranks maybe with a red sprocket to pick up the red on the tires if I go that way. Silver Joker layback seat post. Silver headset.
Was thinking of having the forks, headset and seat post be heavy duty/tough/industrial looking and then the fat wheels/Brooks saddle and maybe bars balancing that out with the old-school look.
For wheels I was thinking a pre-built setup like the Felt: http://www.motostrano.com/Felt-3-spd-Rear-Wheel-Conversion-Kit-p/714057.htm and http://www.motostrano.com/Felt-Cruiser-26-Wheel-p/950400.htm
Or 3G (will this 3G setup fit the Felt frame?): http://www.motostrano.com/3G-Bikes-Cruiser-Deluxe-Wheel-Set-p/d3gbwsdx.htm
The feel I am going for is something along the lines of these pics but with higher/more rearward bars:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54404410@N07/5957526184
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54404410@N07/6302078830
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7309041@N03/4364204199
Anyway, I'd really appreciate some input on cranks, pedals, headsets, forks, bars, and grips to use. I'm looking for good quality, solid stuff, but not absolutely top of the line stuff either. Sort of the sweet spot of above average quality for a bit more $$ without going crazy.
I would be open to using the forks that come with the Felt Canvas frame kit and a single speed rear hub for a while if I need to. I want to be able to ride the bike pretty soon, not drag the build out for months until it's freezing cold outside. I'm set on a comfortable build, so i think I need the nice layback seat post and a good quality seat for sure. I can't seem to find any cool looking bars that look like they come back far enough for me to hold comfortably with a layback seat and not be bent over though…..
That's where I am for now, ideas/thoughts/comments/jabs welcomed.
Thanks,
Mike
Main goals:
1) Be comfortable to ride.
2) Look awesome.
3) Not be ridiculously expensive (try to stay below $1K USD before paint).
First off I'm not asking to be spoon-fed, but it's been a looong time (~25 years) since I had a bike, so I'm way out of the scene and don't know many of the suppliers, details, etc. My last bike was a Blue Max Mongoose with aluminum spider mags in the early 80's
Here's what I was thinking:
Felt Canvas frame kit
Brooks saddle (which model for my size and to fit Joker playback post?)
Joker layback seat post
Multi-speed rear hub
Triple tree front fork setup
Front disk brake
Wide wheels (50mm+?) and fat blackwall tires (3" Fatty-O's maybe?)
Undecided rear brake setup
That's about what I *think* I want for now. I don't know enough about cranks, pedals, headsets, bars or grips to make an informed decision. Oh, I need help on main sprocket sizing also. Pretty much flat around the neighborhood where we will mostly ride.
The "style" I'm going for is sort of "tough", crossed with laid back. Sort of modern motorcycle/mountain bike crossed with old-school cruiser. For colors I was thinking a striking monochromatic blue frame, maybe BMW Laguna Seca Blue. Or leave the frame raw aluminum and just wax it well. Unpolished or polished aluminum wheels with black tires, maybe red stripes on the tires. Maybe red wheels if no red on tires. Silver/polished cranks maybe with a red sprocket to pick up the red on the tires if I go that way. Silver Joker layback seat post. Silver headset.
Was thinking of having the forks, headset and seat post be heavy duty/tough/industrial looking and then the fat wheels/Brooks saddle and maybe bars balancing that out with the old-school look.
For wheels I was thinking a pre-built setup like the Felt: http://www.motostrano.com/Felt-3-spd-Rear-Wheel-Conversion-Kit-p/714057.htm and http://www.motostrano.com/Felt-Cruiser-26-Wheel-p/950400.htm
Or 3G (will this 3G setup fit the Felt frame?): http://www.motostrano.com/3G-Bikes-Cruiser-Deluxe-Wheel-Set-p/d3gbwsdx.htm
The feel I am going for is something along the lines of these pics but with higher/more rearward bars:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54404410@N07/5957526184
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54404410@N07/6302078830
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7309041@N03/4364204199
Anyway, I'd really appreciate some input on cranks, pedals, headsets, forks, bars, and grips to use. I'm looking for good quality, solid stuff, but not absolutely top of the line stuff either. Sort of the sweet spot of above average quality for a bit more $$ without going crazy.
I would be open to using the forks that come with the Felt Canvas frame kit and a single speed rear hub for a while if I need to. I want to be able to ride the bike pretty soon, not drag the build out for months until it's freezing cold outside. I'm set on a comfortable build, so i think I need the nice layback seat post and a good quality seat for sure. I can't seem to find any cool looking bars that look like they come back far enough for me to hold comfortably with a layback seat and not be bent over though…..
That's where I am for now, ideas/thoughts/comments/jabs welcomed.
Thanks,
Mike
