How to Build a Road Bicycle

The finished product after a complete bike build.

Road bicycles are streamlined speed machines made for the open road, tight mountain descents, or ascending into the clouds via your favorite stretch of pavement. The modern road bike is derived from the early 10-speed versions built out of lugged steel by European bike builders and a select few American builders. Today with the capability to have up to 20 gears or more and frames made from aluminum, carbon fiber or titanium, road bicycles may seem complicated to build. However, assembling a road bike is actually quite simple with the right tools.

Things You'll Need

• Frame Wheels with tires Sealed bottom bracket Crank Pedals Front and rear derailleurs Front and rear brakes Brake cables Derailleurs cables Handlebars Sealed bearing headset Stem Seat Seatpost Chain Cassette Front fork Allen wrench assortment Cassette wrench Pliers Headset press

Instructions

1. Screw the bottom bracket into the bottom bracket of the frame. One side of the bracket will be regular threads (right side) and the other side will be reverse threaded (left side). Attach your crank to the bottom bracket spindle by sliding the crank arm over the spindle and tightening the bolt down with an Allen wrench. Make sure to put the chain ring side of the crank on the right side of the bike.

2. Slide the seatpost into the seat tube of the frame, and tighten the adjustment bolt to secure it in place using an Allen wrench. Slide the headset into the frame, and use the headset press to firmly press it into place. Slide the shaft of the fork up through the bottom of the headset. Then slide the stem down over the shaft.
   Drop the endcap onto the top of the stem, and screw tightly into place using the Allen wrenches. Then line up the stem in line with the fork, and tighten the bolts on the stem to secure it to the fork tube.

3. Slide the handlebars into the front of the stem, and tighten the bolts down to secure them in place. Slide the brake levers up onto the handlebars, and secure in place with the bolt on the back. Apply the handlebar wrap according to the manufacturer's instructions.

4. Slide the cassette on the rear wheel, and tighten down with the cassette tool. Insert the front and rear wheels into place on the bike, and tighten the skewers down to secure the wheels. Screw the rear derailleur into the derailleur hanger at the back of the bike. Clamp the front derailleur onto the seat tube above the crank.

5. Wrap the chain around the crank. Run it back through the rear derailleur, around the cassette, and through the front derailleur. Connect the chain with the master link provided in the package.

6. Slide cables into the shifters and brake hoods. Then run the right-hand cables to the rear brake and the rear derailleur. Run the left-hand cables to the front brake and front derailleur. Slide the seat onto the top of the seatpost, tighten the bolts down and you are done. A bit of tuning here and there should get you out on the road in no time.

Tips & Warnings

• Most bicycle shops will assemble a bike for a nominal fee.

• Do not over-tighten any of the bolts on the bike. Many of them will be aluminum, which can strip easily. Consult the manufacturer's manual for the proper torque rates.

Resources

• Informative video on building a multi-speed road bike