Spookykinkajou

I need a commuter SS or fixed gear and wonder if you guys know any shops that sell used bikes/framesets for a reasonable price.

I check craigs list every day but they are mostly the wrong size or are asking ridiculous prices for garbage bikes just because they fit a current trend.

goldenskeletons

continuum cycles on 13th and avenue B. The owner is a guy named jeff who will take care of you.

ZiP0082

NYC craigslist is tough, agreed. Certainly don't buy from that crazy guy down in Sheepshead Bay that markets all of his thrown-together single speed conversions as track bikes.

I've gotten work done at Continuum, and I agree, they're good people. Apparently a full build from the ground up is a little pricey, but it'd be solid.

In terms of being affordable, Trackstar, King Kog and other boutiques seem top dollar, definitely avoid those.

Dixon's on Union St. in Park Slope seems to typically stock Fuji Tracks and SE Drafts, and they are nice:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/dixons-bicycle-shop-brooklyn

concord k

My first purchase was a 10 speed beater from a place on 6th, between First & A. I overpaid initially, then paid some more to get the problems fixed because they let me ride home on a front rim with bent/loose spokes- which I hadn't realized. I do NOT recommend them. Wish I'd known of Continuum or even Frank's on Grand St. I've been there several times and those guys are helpful and friendly.

Spookykinkajou

I called Continuum and they said their rock bottom build was $275. I'm considering going there after work and seeing what they can do since I have a lot of the parts needed for a build. I mostly just need the frameset, headset, and rear wheel. Perhaps I'll get them to drop the price some.

I'll check out Dixon's now. Thanks.

steevdeadman

Word!

gfrance

Bicycle Station on Vanderbuilt Ave in Brooklyn. They scour places for used frames and come back with them in order to build up SS/FG bikes for customers. Talk with them about what you are looking for, budget, etc, and they'll find something for you. Good people.

gharding

What place was that? I think I went there with a friend who bought a bike. The shop was literally packed with bikes. There was maybe 15 sq-ft to walk in there, and they had a bike dangling in the middle anyways so it wasn't possible. Tons of old bikes though. I have the card at home.. can't think of the place's name.

(Oh right.. it was Busy Bee from the post two posts below me)

goldenskeletons

just to back up what gfrance said, bicycle station on vanderbilt is a stellar bike shop.

you might also want to check out affinity cycles on grand.

ZiP0082

I agree completely with Busy Bee Bicycles on 6th Street being really crappy. They are ridiculously pushy on their used sales, and often lie about the components, trying to convince people that the parts are ultra high end, to justify the overinflated prices.

Lucky07

That place is uh, not good... Just avoid it. My wife made the mistake of going in there a couple of times and even she (not at all interested in bike components) knew they were talking isht.

Continuum built up a ss from an old road frame for me & did an excellent job. Jeff & everyone that worked there was great. They're not as cheap as say Recycle, but they're worth whatever the difference in $$ in quality work.

veganwar

Busy Bee Bikes is terrible. The first time I passed by, I thought it was a really old shop with all the isht he had crammed in there. He charged me twice as much as BikeWorks to fix a bent fork and didn't even fix it. BikeWorks did.

Both Continuum and Bike Station are great shops and both Jeff and Mike (owner of Bike Station) really know their **** and are great mechanics. They have both worked on my bikes and are the only shops I go to. I do not know if Mike still finds old frames and converts them to single or fixed. He will still convert something you bring in. Jeff does actively get frames ideal for conversions and builds them up.