Regarding the Bell Helmet that I bought off eBay:
I tried on the helmet at various stores for sizing. It's the Bell Faction helmet.
I suppose you are absolutely correct, Slim, in that I could very well be getting a not so brand new helmet. It is advertised as new with tags etc. etc. And I have a fair bit of experience buying things off eBay, and I feel fairly confident that I am buying from a decent seller. If it turns out to be crap and smelling like ass, I will probably return it.
Regarding the BMX saddle:
I'm not completely sure if it's a pivotal saddle. But I am guessing it probably is. It's a saddle made by a brand called Poverty, which is (as I'm researching and finding out) is Dan's Comp's (a mail order business for BMX bicycles) house brand. The seat doesn't seem to be easily adjustable in any particular way.
In terms of stock parts which bicycle is better?
I assume I will have to be replacing things and upgrading things in the future on either bicycle. But I also assume that I will probably ride either bicycle (that is with the Novara Buzz One with the parts that I already know upfront that I want to replace: handlebar, possibly grips, and thinner Serfas Seca road tires) as is for a significant time being, until I actually learn any sort of bicycle mechanics (in all honesty, I'm not even sure how much time and effort I will be able to spend learning things, it may take a while).
I was fairly set on getting the Novara Buzz One. The Nashbar Hounder kind of throws me off course. But you guys are making it seem like it is a good deal and good investment in the long run. Indeed, it is a very cool looking bicycle. I find it a bit strange that it gets good ratings and pretty good reviews despite everyone complaining about stock parts. So I am going to assume that people like the frame. I also wonder about the geometry.
I liked the Buzz One because I felt I could sit a bit more upright than the ss/fg's that I tried out (the Phat Cycles Phixie and the Felt Brougham) which seemed to have a more horizontal top tube and more of a road cycle type frame (felt a bit more like I was leaning forward). Actually, I remember my hands, wrists, and forearms getting tired and sore fairly quickly on the Phat Cycles Phixie, but I assumed it was because I hadn't ridden anything in about 3 years.
This is a quote from one of the Amazon reviews for the Nashbar Hounder:
"Brakes are alloy, but old-style single pivot calipers with SURFACE mount. You will not be able to find modern double-pivot brake with a surface mount, and the frame (brake bridge and fork) drilled for surface brake mount will not accept modern recessed mount."
I have no idea what the hell any of that means. All I can translate from that is that I will have to do more research and endless threads like this to find out about parts and what's good what isn't etc.
It seems like most people are unhappy or felt the need, either right off the bat or certainly in the near future, to replace/upgrade the saddle and brakes on the Nashbar Hounder. I also read of people feeling the need to replace the grips, stem, and crank on the Hounder. The thing that makes me the most nervous is how many people have talked about being unhappy or feeling unsafe with the stock brakes on the Hounder.
I'm not sure how much this might factor into everything or anything. But I'm also a very light human. Bantamweight... walk around at about 140lbs.
I do kind of just want to get a bicycle already. But I am honestly now unsure of what to get.
Regarding Fixie Chick...
Yeah, I'll probably just not even go back to EMS. I feel like I really have no interest in a geared bicycle and they most likely will try to sell me on the idea of getting the Jamis Coda.
It's NYC, there's a crapload of people who walk in and out of EMS, and Fixie Chick probably doesn't remember me (at best she will probably remember me as the awkward short guy who was worried about crushing his balls on the top tube) and will also try to sell me one of their bicycles (it's her job after all). I highly doubt she would help me out choosing between two bicycles that they do not carry and therefore cannot sell to me and make commission off of.
I'm seriously 50/50 on the fence now between either bicycle.
Which would you guys rather steal between the Novara Buzz One and the Nashbar Hounder?