Originally Posted by
FixedFanatic
Thanks for all the updates on this bike. Ive been looking to buy this for a while, but ive been hesitant. Im an idiot when it comes to bikes, so im not sure if i can keep up with it as well as you can. I just want a fixed gear that i can ride around town with friends. I also dont want to spend to much on a bike and this is obviously a great price, so im asking you if this Vilano bike will do the job? Is it worth it? Thanks for the help!
Vilano will do the job. But I also hope that you've been reading what an internet bike is about, even what you may have to go thru with the local bike shop for a name brand bike has been my point throughout this thread. Pick a price point, what you feel comfortable with. Here are some options:
http://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm
http://www.republicbike.com/
I understand you're looking for a pain free guarantee. I can tell you that my experience with RBO for out of the box was the product had defects. But I will also indicate as defects are identified, customer support/service was behind it every step of the way. After those pains, I have an inexpensive bike that is what it is in that regard. Every bike is the same in terms of having to be built, adjusted, tuned or whatever. Buy a name brand from the local bike shop and they have taken as much of that pain for you and you are going to pay for it. I have yet to find a SS/FG track bike for under $ 599 at a local bike shop and many will be even more. In that regard, the Vilano kept me around $ 300, but I turned wrenches and spent time on it too. Even a WalMart bike is going to have to go thru this building and adjustment process.
Another option, buy a used bike where somebody else has already lived thru the pain.
About the only bike style that I've witnessed go together out of the box with minimal hassles are the beach cruiser styles with a coaster brake. But that isn't what you're after. With the track bike, a non mechanical type individual might be challenged by a caliper brake adjustment process ? Anyway, understand when you buy an internet bike, that there will be things you can fix, for what you can't the local bike shop will do. RBO, Republic or BD will not send a bike technician out to your house and it's not like AAA where there's roadside repair service included. It's why I did my riding & adjustments a few blocks around the neighborhood, because 3+ miles away is a miserable place to be if any of them breakdown. Getting the bike roadworthy can be a slow & painfull process. That's my advices.