Spindatt's Guide to Cool Cheap Bike Builds

[@sunreindeerfog]

Mate. These videos are so refreshing. I’m sick of the videos where guys are using torque wrenches and wearing blue nitrile gloves. The stuff they’re doing is so out of reach. May the god of of the KZbin algorithm smile upon you. Peace ✌️

[@Spindatt]

Lol there was a time I wanted to be one of those guys. Silky smooth video. Perfect shops. Properly, strictly build bikes. Literally getting deeper back into BMX put that to a screeching halt. Hit things with hammers and do little jumps!

[@Grizzly907LA]

I don't even have a garage to work on bikes. I have a cubby where I work on them. I don't wear nitrile gloves, because I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

[@Grizzly907LA]

@@Spindatt Hammer mechanics for the win.

[@andrewyankee9862]

the bike community wether its mtb or cycling its all super pretentious and a lot of the time can be super expensive. always nice to find a youtuber that takes a different and more diverse approach to fun on 2 wheels

[@jackwilson8651]

Spot on. I totally agree. I go from watching the awful GCN and their faux buddy-buddy schtick to this real deal stuff

[@oldshovel]

Awesome start. I need to do a spare parts build... truthfully with a straight bar this would look next level.

[@Spindatt]

Haha my expectation for changing the bars to a proper mtb flat bar is getting into a lot of “while I’m in there’s”. Fork, stem, bar... disk fork: so have to convert to disk. It’s never ending haha!

[@iamdjsluggo]

@@Spindatt that’s where the imagination and artistry takes over though! That part is WHY we build!!!👍🏾

[@gravelanch2649]

love the old shovel channel too!

[@thepedlad7946]

Looks better with these bars nice beater commuter bike

[@fixedrider5912]

Totally get the guitar analogy, that was spot on. I'm 62 years old and still dragging home $35.00 bikes from Goodwill to transform into something rideable. I just finished an 80s Marin Muir woods, put 700c fixie wheelset on it, got lucky with "unicorn" gear ratio and chain tension on vertical dropouts. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@lkb3rd]

I am a guitarist for 35 years, and whenever a young player wants to know what guitar to get, I tell them to get the one their favorite player plays. They have to be excited about it. There's lots of guitars that are good.

[@wroman77]

There are so many good little nuggets of advice in this video that go beyond bike building. Well done.

[@Bigfoots777]

amen to that

[@iamsamuele123]

Needed to see this. Working on a Nishiki build and just decided to reuse some parts in the mean time just to ride it now.

[@cristianflorinanghel2833]

It's so weird to be watching you from Romania out of all places and seeing that you only have 35 k subs. I don't even know how I stumbled upon your content but I love it. Keep up the good work!

[@bait3027]

The guitar analogy to emphasize importance of shape is solid advice. You can always change components

[@kipcc3918]

DISC BRAKE OLD BIKES ARE A VIBE ❤️❤️❤️

[@tuxtoo1]

Just found your channel and that's the kind of bike I have and wow, what a breath of fresh air from all those videos where a budget bike starts at a grand.

[@civicbam]

This one hit me hard. Lol. I’m definitely of the build it and leave it on a shelf till it’s done type person. You’re my guitar magazine.

[@craig_dahlke1237]

this was the video that introduced me to your page, and I still rewatch it everytime I embark on a new bike build.

[@ZenEndurance]

LOVE the color. I just resurrected a blue Nishiki hybrid frame for the 3rd time. A friend found it in a dumpster and gave it to me because it was too big for him. I turned it into a mountain bike and rode it around Santa Fe and then got third in a Xterra triathlon on it! Years later, converted it into a singlespeed for my son to ride to high school. Then just last month, converted it into a gravel bike and it's fantastic for it. We just noticed it whistles when going fast into a headwind, so we are naming it "Whistling Death". lol

[@brianreddish4874]

It looks like Christmas in June and I love it

[@Spindatt]

Colour wheel confirmed!

[@davidcawthorne7115]

Love this video. I just finished a build of a "psycho-cross" bike using a Orbea Igorre 2008 cyclo-cross frame. Bought various parts of ebay to finish it. I have been out last three days on it. It is a joy to ride and my favourite of my 4 bikes. Canti brakes, bar end shifters, Mtb triple front n rear derailleurs. But double Ultegra chainset that came with bike. Cool and unique. 😊 And light and a good ride.

[@XxPureKhaosxX]

I didn’t realize I was doing this with my junk specialized but now after working on it for two months Im usually more excited to ride it than my other bikes, well above my FS and pretty darn close to my recently pimped 70s steel road bike. Love this mentality

[@banyanstudio]

Awesome attitude. This is how you approach a custom build!

[@r.williams8349]

Wise words. I have all these half finished bikes- i need to get them rolling!!!

[@paulmiller6069]

Already really enjoyed your content, but the David Freiburger quote put this video over the top! BAM!

[@DVCAlumni]

Love the bike! I picked up what I thought was going to be a POS Cannondale for $100. A bit of tlc and $50 in tires and bar tape I have a most favored bike. And I was inspired to do it by watching this channel!

[@Spindatt]

Amazing! Always got to take chances on those 100$ bikes.

[@aroostookbarbell5549]

I’ve been quietly watching your videos since the beginning. Thank you for having a channel that speaks to the every day dude that absolutely loves riding no matter what it is. You are the man. Please keep making videos for us all. Thanks Homie.

[@intraterrestrial69]

One time i found a garage kept, all original Trek 400 with Suntour Edge in the dumpster at my old apartment. It's crazy what some people will throw away. I still have it 4 years later.

[@gerriedelport6818]

You are having so much fun. Finding a frame like that around here is almost impossible.

[@Spindatt]

When they pop up on marketplace, I send the person a message and etransfer them RIGHT AWAY. I don’t even see them. I usually don’t know what size it is. I just chance it haha

[@gerriedelport6818]

@RollinRat Wow. Yes I see these bikes but in this area people think a old bike is still worth a few $100 I don't know why. You described me perfectly "patient, persistent and very frugal". LOL

[@gerriedelport6818]

@@Spindatt Thanks for the reply. sound you have the winning recipe.

[@Locojoe]

That's my kind of bike. I suppose that is what most my builds are. Great video.

[@skippyyoung7872]

Love these "cheap builds" lots of fun..🚴‍♂️

[@michaelzanotto8469]

I totally agree. Build and ride to the best of your existing abilities. I build bicycles (now primarily mixte frames) for my own enjoyment and hopefully this enjoyment is shared with others. Best words and video to date!

[@ssmtb]

I love this video, keep circling back to it for inspiration, this has been the main mantra behind my Trek 820 1999 project

[@morganrowe]

After watching you for ages now, this just confirms your epic philosophy. Experience is everything 🤙

[@jorgevillarreal1158]

How many people dream of having a bike like that? Perspective dude! 🕊️

[@gordbassett7206]

This is the bike you need to create to haul both your skate board and bmx that you were mentioning in past videos. Perfect candidate to mess with! Do It!

[@Spindatt]

This IS the exact bike built for this haha!

[@jisu222]

I dig the red fork on the green frame

[@derekmosher4561]

That would be a daily rider for some folks , cool build .

[@Gearkitguru]

I kid you not i got up from watching this video and built a bike from random parts i had around ! You make a really good point in this video

[@ryanjohnson4193]

Bought an old steel frame Raleigh one of my favorite bikes. Always enjoy your video Be safe.😁

[@jasonwu9287]

That was a really cool way to get a stuck seat tube out at 2:50

[@the_nondrive_side]

4:58 YES!! Also the red fork and general style of this bike works.. 3x wide range and TT bars.. I'm in. Oh yeah.. Semi Slick.

[@hammeredscout]

Great advice....I just finished a Peugeot MTB I bought at a flea Market for $10usd bucks. I sourced some used wheels and bits and it's a blast to ride. I kept the 3chainring cranks and big 6spd freewheel in the back. I can pedal up any mountain for miles. The trendy 1x9 fad looks great but cost a grip upfront and doesn't work as awesome as the trusty 3x5or6. Booom😮 dang there I said it.🤣 I'm glad there's many old bike rebuilders out there tinkering away. Peace✌

[@geckoram6286]

Tbh this was the exact video I needed right now

[@johnhanley9946]

The red front fork is so goofy and cool! 👍

[@nommchompsky]

Good advice. Get whatever you have up and running, then start the slow slog of parts upgrades. Be sure to keep the new parts you order in a spot where you can admire them before installation. Whisper nice things to them. Perhaps caress them in the night. "Soon I will ride you, my pretties"

[@speedbird8987]

I love those handlebars!!

[@lask2057]

Literally the ideal video I could've seen, been thinking about getting an old mtb to play with and had been second guessing myself on an old Dawes MTB

[@Spindatt]

Do it!

[@grill_dad]

This is all just great life advise too. Awesome, motivating video! Coincidentally, I picked up an old bike off Craigslist today so I can learn how to work on a bike (and not be scared of breaking my expensive mountain bike)

[@johnbaca8692]

Cool colors, so it is automatically a success!!!

[@Grizzly907LA]

I am refurbishing an old steel frame bike as a gift for a friend. The thing is rusty. I am going to have a devil of a time getting the old cone style bottom bracket out, but at least it will be an interesting endeavor.

[@Grizzly907LA]

@RollinRat I saw that fix and will try it if all other options fail. I am going to spray it down with PB blaster, and heat with a heat gun. That's worked quite a few times for me.

[@chuffa1130]

That is an awesome build though at a franken parts I even love the forks they're so awesome thanks for sharing

[@ChrisTrunek]

I have a deep love for cheap bike builds. Built up quite a few of parts bin bikes and they always seem to ride way way better than they have any right too. plus they have so much style!

[@cryingrocknathanaeledwards1828]

My winter bike/ mountain bike is a pretty similar quality of frame. I have a blast on it!

[@Spindatt]

So much ain’t care creates a lot of smiles

[@joshuazech7342]

Oh lawd, that thing is hideous! Great work!

[@Spindatt]

They always start out a little lanky in their teenage years haha

[@mauritsvallentin]

I do the same thing and I totally agree. Parts becoming machine again is cool.

[@sal26]

Great video. I started finding and rebuilding "frankenbikes" during covid. "just get in running" is spot on.

[@mutos82]

All from my 6 bikes are built according to the same philosophy like these one! It gives a great satisfaction during use.

[@lukeoverthehill]

Picked up a 1990 Hard rock off Facebook that was headed for the garbage. Only had one tire that was probably the original. Headset and BB thrashed. Been enjoying bringing it back but waiting for parts in the mail is torture! I hate staring at it I just want it to ride again!

[@spooky8662]

Great video and perfect attitude! You've been a great inspiration on my plans to build a 2nd hand store GT into a gravel bike. And with how modified my old peugeot is, I agree completely that the best bike is the one you want to ride the most! Stats don't matter as much as people think.

[@timshelhamer7374]

I like that build a lot and would definitely be thrilled to commute and ride around on it. I realized the term “fix with a hammer” isn’t used nearly enough.

[@marcusathome]

Yes, yes, yes! It's perfect in its imperfection.

[@glenmorrow1255]

Another bonus, wouldn’t need a bike lock. Haha. Loved this unique bike build video

[@Shaz8389]

I'm late to the party but i like this. When i buy a random bike i like the colour of (my main motivation now) i just clean everything and throw tyres on it then change things after i ride it and figure out what i want to change.

[@ridewithwoody5808]

Love that you built another bike just so you don’t have a rack on the RockHopper 😂

[@Spindatt]

I couldn’t help it hahaha

[@SalmiakAlert]

My old mountain bike that I need to fix has a Blackburn aluminium rack that also acts as a mud guard. Complete with Missy Giove sticker from a 90's MTB magazine.

[@AlistairBrugsch]

@@SalmiakAlert but is missy wearing a dead piranha?

[@michaelfulmer5328]

Always into cheap bike builds. Ball on a budget

[@tecdesigns8183]

I get more enjoyment taking something and building it as cheaply as I can. You be amazed what you can get for free and what people throw away.

[@Spindatt]

Building stuff is just too damn fun

[@rominahernandez956]

I needed this energy. 🙌🏼

[@brendintosh6551]

Currently working on my 1994 GT Tequesta and this video hit hard.. after watching this vid, it made me excited to use this bike to experiment with becoming a better mechanic, cyclist, and traveler

[@darrenbedford8784]

So inspiring. Plus there is no other bike out there like that. So that makes it unique in my eyes. Love all your bike builds 👍

[@austincanty780]

This would be perfect for a wild spray.bike paint job

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

the kinda video that ensures people who have been following this channel for long keep coming back. This channel has always been #pedalphilosophy

[@kenjineered7750]

Hey mate, good advice! I've been turning an 80's road bike into a shop boy, and was hung up on the panniers or whatever... Now I've realized that it had to be the milk crate over the front wheel all along. Cheers.

[@froggerc625]

Wise words, just wish I had a bigger parts bin (and tool selection) as someone just getting into this stuff last year. Slowly but surely deal hunting.

[@kitkat12326]

Your videos are always a nice way for me to wake up with some coffee :) you're the one that got me into restoring bikes. I just finished a 1994 Bridgestone MB-4 Trail and she looks amazing! The paints a bit dinged up, and the fork isn't the original but my bike nerd buddy had a Logic fork for me and it doesn't match so somethings gonna get repainted. The bike, or the fork. I opted for some vintage TranzX bullhorns, those ones that curve inward like butterflies. It rides pretty sick too :)

[@iamdjsluggo]

Rust-o-Rod?! Noice! I just built up a 1979 Shogun Prairie Breaker I. Paint is chipped but it was cheep and a fun build!

[@Spindatt]

Getting these things together without spending a whole lot of anything is so good!

[@brosettastone7520]

great music in this one!

[@michaellandman8419]

Awesome video! You're channel is motivating me on my own projects. An early 90's purple stumpjumper with big tyres for beach riding and converting a 30+ years old koga miyata touring bike to a light gravel bike! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@noajonssonsvahn7962]

This is my jam!

[@edbrowne8106]

This is the inspiration I needed to just start building. Three projects just waiting for the “right” parts. Rubbish, get them moving and the parts will follow. “If you build it, they will come!”

[@mygoalcrash8077]

Good frame with good head tubing 11/8 .! i have old 92 Giant Granite head tube is 1inch((

[@stockton350]

100 percent agree. Cycling gets lots more accessible to people when it's not about the gear.

[@ComadoreSniffle]

can you talk about the rear spacing on old vintage mountain bikes, im not sure if theyre 130mm or 135mm and able to just upgrade lets say a 7 speed vintage mountain bike and slap a 10-11 speed cassette, maybe changing out the wheels if the hub does not fit a 10 to 11 speed cassette

[@davidhollinger2987]

awesome video. Just picked up a $50 94 Univega Via DeOro and your video has reinforced my thought to as you said, "just get it running." Thanks for this. Hope you didn't convert it to disc brakes.

[@michaelgoddard9089]

What crankset did you use? Working on a 96 Trek 930 and would like to go 1x7 with it. It uses a Shimano BB-LP26 73mm English 110 spindle

[@MW-ud8zp]

I love the stache!

[@Spindatt]

It just keeps getting in my mouth hahah

[@Abandon7d]

yeah shave that 80ties Sauerkraut :-)

[@rickriggio3550]

that bike is sick!

[@murphragous]

Love the approach to the build. I need to take your (Freiburgers) advice and just get it running. Too many things in pieces currently.

[@MX5Fanatic]

Very inspirational, thanks Eric.

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

love it and learned a LOT thank you

[@radioseppe]

I’ve been doing quite the same, flipping old trashbikes for friends etc. Usually I just singlespeed the rear and put some nicely rolling tires like schwalbe big apples and it makes a really useful townbike. Living in a smalltown singlespeed is enough, no need for gears. Guess it’s the ”k.i.s.s” -method

[@rogerhart612]

Awesome, fun build. Thanks for the inspiration

[@valhalla1799]

Hi, you make so cool Videos...👍🏻 I also have not enough Money to by some new Bikes.... So i build my (new cool )Gravel bike from an old '95 Raligh MTB ....and now i'm happy with it. Greetings from Germany

[@dazzasp3]

Love builds like this 👍🏼

[@BruceChastain]

wise words here

[@kensisti2761]

89 centurion prestige built up free w/ inventory including Reynolds Assault already in my wheelhouse. Or Roadmaster 5 sp girls beach/park cruiser

[@eloidom2298]

I cant agree more. I have a new project after i finished my upgraded spanish 80s road bike. Now I am working on a Marin dropped project from an unknown dude which made a sik paintjon on it. Got myself an xt 2x10 deore groupset second hand but i will be using a spare 80s front derailleur bc compatibility with the frame and some old 90s brakes for dropbars and wheels and the shifter of mountainbike inside. The 700c wheels with 35 tires, and i will feel like the coolest kid on the trail even if some things would feel insulting for purist who never compited with their 4000€ bikes

[@26ozkan]

That was excellent explanation about the breaking point of build project. I remember when I bought my first RC car and just upgrade the wheels with ball bearings instead of plastic bushings, and put better motor on it. I ride it on the street for a year, day and night, winter or summer, that was awesome, still remember those days. Then upgrade more, suddenly with corbon chassis, aluminum parts and special licenced rims and tires. after carbon chassis started to worry about screcths and breaking things and got no satisfaction with expensive mods and bright shining parts :/ years later it happens on one of my bicycle project too. Now I know what Im gonna do.

[@TryboBike]

Great video. This is pretty much my approach - I'd rather tinker with something out of a dumpster and get it to ride then adorn bikes with latest and greatest. Besides - the funniest bikes are the one made as an amalgam of parts that should not work togather. What annoys me the most tho are all the people saying "Why would you put ____ here? The bike is barely worth 'X'". As if personal value of a machine can be measured in money. All of my bikes are made of random assortment of parts which I wanted to be there.

[@Spindatt]

I kind of like both, but I have way more fun with the more “disposable” stuff. It’s fun to build sentiment with bikes that were on the brink of trash, and keep changing them/making them more fun. Until the sentiment grows to preciousness. Then they are irreplaceable haha

[@richardking3681]

Your best vid yet!!

[@Narayan_Patki]

LOVED this video!

[@ryanwelsh2796]

Ok, so, 1. The stache is looking 👌 2. Excellent Jack White reference.

[@mstark77]

Great video and great topic.

[@jdillon8360]

Good tips! Thanks.

[@ungarlinski7965]

What rear rack is that?

[@JoakimGarde]

This is important stuff!

[@andrewyankee9862]

maybe thats a later raleigh? the one i have is lugged and relatively light