i was in your position at the beginning of the summer. buy cheap, or spend more?

i looked at State and others of it's type.

ended up getting a Jamis Sputnik from a local shop, being very much a "buy local" guy.

then later, on a whim, i picked up a closeout bike with a much higher original price and much better component package.

i really didn't think there would be a discernible difference. there was. quality of fit/finish/ride was very apparent.

now i wish i had spent more initially.

buy the best bike your current budget allows.

but i will say that, knowing what i know now, i'd have trolled yard sales and such to find a classic bike to do a conversion on. kills me to think how many beautiful 70's Italian and Japanese roadies i passed up, that would have made great fixed gears, because i thought it was too difficult. building a bike is dead easy. the only thing i haven't taught myself to do in the last three months is how to lace a wheel.