Any cyclist can agree that new bike day is the best. And that joy is amplified when you know how to build a custom bike. The Wrench Science Bike Builder online tool gives you the opportunity to customize your next road bike, mountain bike, gravel bike, triathlon and even track bike.

If until now you have been content to buy complete bikes, you will understand the benefits of building your bike from scratch. You will have the chance to choose crank lengths, handlebar widths, stem length, while also customizing important touch points like saddle model and pedal choice. 

There is a lot to consider, though, so we have this guide to help you get the most out of the online tools available on Wrench Science. 

Customizing your bike: start by finding your size

If you have ridden enough to know what works for you and what doesn’t, then you will have a good idea where to start. It’s important to know all your measurements when choosing your frame and components. And even if you are not quite sure, the Wrench Science Fit System tool can show you how to take accurate body measurements to guide you in selecting the proper frame size and component measurements. 

Selecting the proper size and measurements for all parts will be an essential step in customizing your bike. 

Choose your frame

Perhaps the most fun part of finding out how to customize a bike is choosing the frame. The first question you will ask yourself is what style of riding you intend to do? Will you be searching for a road bike to tackle Strava segments? Are you looking for a mountain bike to explore local trails? Do you want to have an all-road bike that will allow you to ride road and gravel equally easily?

You will most likely know the answer to those questions before you start searching for the perfect bike. Ask yourself what sort of terrain you will be riding most often. Do you live in a city center with little access to gravel or MTB trails? Then you’ll most likely want to focus on the perfect road bike. But if you are a keen off-road rider, then you’ll definitely want to investigate the wider tire options. 

Then you need to be clear with yourself about what your cycling goals will be. Are you looking to race? Road, gravel or mountain bike racing? If so, you will want to focus on building up your custom bike to excel in those competitive situations.

However, if you are more interested in touring, bikepacking, or bike park riding, then you will more likely focus less on high performance and more on durability and capability, both for the frame and the components. For instance, weight will become less of an issue and practical concerns like tire width and versatility will take center stage. 

Choose your components

Finding the perfect frame when searching how to customize your road, gravel or mountain bike is just the first step. The components like drivetrain and wheels will often have an even greater effect on ride quality and overall performance. 

When you use the Wrench Science Bike Builder, you will be given every possible option for compatible components to suit the bike frame you have chosen. We will save you the hassle of worrying about which bottom bracket will fit or what brake standard to use. 

And don’t forget that we have experts who are ready to speak with you about some of the finer points like what wheels will be the best choice for your riding style. No detail will be too small to consider. 

How to customize your road bike

Though you will have many of the same considerations whether you are building a road bike or mountain bike, there are a few things that stand out in importance when building a custom road bike. Two words: touch points. 

By touch points we mean those three places where your body actually touches the bike: hands, butt, feet. These three places in particular require proper attention, and in the case of road or gravel bike choices, you will want to focus on essential issues like stem length, handlebar width, saddle brand, and crank length. Remember too that things like quality bib shorts and proper shoe fit will play a big role as well. 

If you have a long history of cycling, then you will likely have a good idea of what measurements work best for you. And if you are a little less certain, online tools like our Fit System and Bike Builder in conjunction with consultation with one of our experts will help you find the ideal set up for your perfect racing, endurance, all road or gravel bike. 

How to customize your mountain bike

In addition to the question of touch points, which is equally important for all types of mountain biking, you will also want to consider something that roadies don’t have to worry about: suspension. 

Choosing suspension systems and brands will be perhaps the most important decision you will make in the process of building a custom mountain bike. First question will be whether you will be buying a hardtail or full suspension? Again, the style of riding and terrain will help answer that question for you. Your skill level will also play a role. These are all issues you can talk over with one of our experts.

When deciding on which brand of suspension system you want to choose, you will need to focus on your riding goals and whether that will extend to racing ambitions. Weighting durability versus high performance will help whittle the field down. And something that you should certainly focus on when choosing a suspension set up is your own weight. 

A heavier rider will naturally require a different suspension set up than a lighter rider. Perhaps frustratingly, there is never one absolutely correct answer. Sometimes it’s a question of trial and error to discover what your sweet spot is. But this is also an area where Wrench Science experts can help. 

Regardless of the bike you want to build, Wrench Science is happy to give you whatever assistance you need when deciding how to custom build a bike. No matter the discipline or the ambitions, we’ll help you find the perfect ride for your cycling pleasure.