Philasteve

Yeah man I feel like most first time buyers should go into a good bike shop and just talk to the people there. Sizing is difficult over the internet and so is doing a once over after putting it together if you have no idea how bikes work. I think if people just looked the forum over for a few days and did a couple good searches they would figure out that the bikes in that price range are always the same ones. I always recommend spending a little more and getting it from a shop for your first FG just so you have back up when things go wrong. Like you said even the entry level bigger company completes have hiccups sometimes. If I where this dude I would save for a Kilo WT, way worth it in the long run, he can transform it into tons of different set ups for whatever he needs. Thats why I'm still riding my Creamroller all of these years later.

Juan Foote

Yeah, there isn't any test riding a BD....my latest purchase was a "tad" too big on the TT height, but everything else is perfect.
For those willing to do their own homework the easiest (and cheesiest) thing to do is hit up the local shops and ride all you can. The one you like best go and see what the measurements are and shop BD based on that. You will still find minor differences due to difference in method, but generally comes pretty close.

AristoNYC

So no one is going to point out @Philasteve 's creepy tinder photo?

Philasteve

Damn bro, I switched it before I even saw this. I'm about to bring it back now.

AristoNYC

haha, I was just jealous of your abs so I had to call you out on it.

Philasteve

hahahah, I loled @ both.

GhostSS

Most people don't go out and buy a brand new car in one lump sum. $300-500 is basically one car payment. Don't even get me started on rent/mortgage. So yeah, if you have a job and you're an adult, it kinda is chump change especially if it's a primary mode of transportation.

A lot of riders here (FG/SS sub forum) who do have fairly expensive bikes didn't buy it all in one go either. They bought them piece by piece over a period of months or years. Or you know, saved up their money for it and bought something pre built.

You need to get over the fact that we're being harsh and take what good and undeserved advice came your way.

Philasteve

When he dishes out a tiny bit of money and parts start to break quick he'll realize why people spent money for more quality stuff. I feel like people are being harsh because good bikes aren't cheep and cheap bikes aren't good. Like that other guy said, all skateboarders are rolling on $170 set ups for a reason. Buying something super cheap isn't bad when you have the tools to do repairs and swap things yourself. And also when you have spare parts or a co op near by. $400-$500 isn't a lot when you can run all of the parts for along time without throwing money at it all of the time. Never mind a car, if I want a monthly train pass for working downtown that's $101 a month. Times that by 12, thats $1212 for a year, which is where a reliable decent bike comes in as a main mode of transportation. $300 can get you something nice on craigslist if your in a good city for bikes.

veganbikes

You could say that stuff about a lot of things. A car is technically rubber tires on a frame so is a wheelbarrow or a train for that matter. I could probably buy a cheap Yugo which might come out to cheaper than your budget meaning you now have a bike that costs more than a car and you must flog yourself.

I bet I can throw a cheap-o Huffy at my local bank and break it. If you want something that won't break the bank I might suggest the Fuji Track Pro or something ultra light maybe in a carbon fiber. I don't think CF is likely to break a bank unless it has really weak walls.

I was out for a bit and missed your other threads but it sounds like the same exact threads that about 100 others like you have already posted and are easily searched here. If people took the time and did some minor searches maybe people would be nicer around here because they wouldn't have to listen to the same exact question lobbed at them over and over.

Juan Foote

Honestly, if we moderated the forum based on that premise there would be nothing here aside from us hurling insults at one another.

bouldergeek

I take umbrage at your aspersion, sir!

Last bike I bought was a very gently used Fuji Track Pro. It has never seen road, only three velodromes. Under $500, under 16lbs.

Learn what your sizes are, and what feels good. Shop FleaBay and CL. Don't let your tampon string drag on the ground.

TenSpeedV2

I feel like with bikes, a lot of the time you get what you pay for. Find a new bike for $300 online, you are gonna get a pile of crap on wheels. I have gone through this already with the BSO I purchased from www.bigshot.com what an absolute piece. Threw the monies at it in hopes of making it better. All I did was waste teh monies. Polish a turd you say? I tried that. Doesn't work.

Some people think that $300 is a lot for a bike, and then some people think that $300 is just about right for a saddle or a crank set.

TejanoTrackie 

Not necessarily. Sometimes you luck out and find a decent bike on clearance for a lot less than $300. That was the case with my bd Windsor Clockwork, which I bought for $170 + tax. At the normal $300 price it was a decent bike that was completely rideable with its stock parts, and at $170 it was a steal. I put about $100 into it with improvements, and still had less than $300 invested. As long as the main components (frameset, wheelset, crankset) are decent, then it's a good longterm investment.

prooftheory

I would be interested to hear someones evaluation of the $200 bike at City Grounds:6KU Fixie Single-Speed Fixed Gear Bike Nebula Black

TenSpeedV2

A guy I know has one, will have to ask him how he likes it. I saw it in person when he first got it. Looked alright, but that was just a quick look at it. Can't imagine that the components on it are that great, but you never know. He opted for it due to the price.

TejanoTrackie 

Don't forget that shipping isn't free on that bike, and might be quite expensive.

Scrodzilla

It's basically a Pure Fix, and we all know how those are.

However, the aluminum 6KU "Track" bike for $339 really isn't too bad for the money. We ordered one for a customer's son about a month ago and I was pretty surprised.

veganbikes

Hey don't lob factual insults at us ; )