Bikes have always fascinated me; namely their mechanical efficiency in relation to nearly everything else ever created. However, the phrase, "the most efficient machine ever created" lets all bikes pass by without scrutiny. The truth is, only efficient bikes are the most efficient machines ever created. I became fixated on these high-end racing bikes and what it must feel like to ride one. I wanted an efficient bike: quiet, lightweight, and with low frictional losses. But I didn't want to pay for it. And I wanted to build it myself.

On a budget, I looked past the big sticker prices of the bike giants and cut out the middle man. The design and engineering that goes into these performance bikes certainly justifies their price, but there are additional costs associated with the process (i.e. being able to walk into a LBS, purchase a fully-built bike, and have them help you get it set up). Instead, I went straight to the manufacturers in China. Without the big name branding, it is not uncommon to find nearly identical parts going for 10% of what they would sell for at a local bike store. Not only were these parts far cheaper, but I found you could often get parts in high-performance materials such as carbon fiber and titanium for far less than the steel or aluminum equivalent would be here in the states. Of course, when purchasing this way, there is a large cloud of uncertainty surrounding quality, reliability, and safety. I shopped around, did plenty of research, and took the risk on importing parts from dozens of suppliers and what resulted is a machine. And damn does it feel efficient.

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Total Weight: 6681g - 14.729lbs (below the minimum weight for the Tour de France)

Total Build Cost: <$700

Estimated Cost of Branded Components: >$4000

Estimated Cost Savings: ~$3300 (82.5%)