Originally Posted by
sounds7
Why settle for entry level crap? Get a nice 2nd hand frame and components from ebay/craigs list/ Bike forum classifieds etc. and make a budget and build the thing like you want it the first time. I sold a full Carbon frame by Pedal Force for only $300 dollars a while back because It didnt have a reserve and in this economy it is a buyers market. You would be surprised what slides under the radar. It may take a few months to complete the bike because you are being frugal about it, but at least you wont be trying to sale the cheapo under $700 bike a few months down the road when you have gotten really serious about the sport and want to upgrade. Just my 2cents. Back to the the under $700 thread now.
The problem is, us people posting in this forum don't have the knowledge base to pull this off successfully. Thus we need to buy a bike. I would love to put together a bike from stuff on Ebay, but I would end up getting stuff that is incompatible and beyond my ability to put together due to a lack of experience. It could turn out to be a huge loss of money and time if you get ahead of yourself.