TheDL

A full fixed/free bike for under $300? You won't see the full discount until you add it to your cart. In my cart it came up to $269.99. Free shipping if you ship to a Peformance store. For a basic commuter it may not be a bad place to start.

I know some people have their reservations about Performance Bike...but...take it for what it is...brand new, better-than-Target/Walmart bike for under $300. Check it out. It's their "Deal of the Day"

uke

I'd take my Target bike over it, thank you kindly.

degnaw

The only difference between online and department store is that online sites tend to sell higher end bikes. When you're buying at the lower end, there's probably little to no difference.

That said, why are you comparing a road bike to a singlespeed?

TheDL

The difference I would think would be you get a better warranty and service if you should have problems later by buying from Performance rather than Target/Wal-Mart.

uke

^ Oh, agreed. Just pointing out that there are also good deals to be had at Target. For under $300, I'd probably go with this.

CCrew

Shipping weight 39.5 lbs? No thanks. I can order a boat anchor that weighs less. At least it's 3lbs lighter than the one you own

uke

Must be nice to have weightless bike boxes. In reality, the Forge is at least a few pounds lighter than my Coda, which weighs 26 lbs.

degnaw

Maybe bike boxes weigh twenty lbs where you live, but they don't here.

supercycle62

That's a good deal! It would be perfect for my needs. Thanks for that...now I want one....

ulugeyik

it looks like a nice deal. I have a SE Lager single speed from performance bikes that I am happy for the purposes I use it for. Here people trash that bike , yes it is not as good as the higher end ones but all I wanted was a single speed bike (so as not to deal with gears) and light enough to climb a flight of stairs to train stations etc. it does the job for me.

Tex_Arcana

I'm thinking that except for having a word for biowaste in it's name it's a better deal then the big box store bikes at that price that people were touting earlier. As long as you aren't climbing a lot of long steep hills.

Then again I prefer steel over aluminum any day.

Andy_K 

I've been wondering lately why Target/Walmart don't try to sell a simple, non-cruiser looking singlespeed. Why do so many of their bikes have to have those awful suspension forks? There's so much less to be lousy on a singlespeed, and you'd think it would be cheaper to make.

I mean, Target has a beach cruiser for $80. How about you lose the fenders, coaster brake and chainguard; substitute a normal, double triangle frame; throw on a cheap flat bar and hand brakes; and sell it as a trendy single speed? Sure it would still be crap, but it would be more functional crap than one of those horrific $180 full suspension mountain bikes they keep foisting on people.

nyc_commuter

Check out this link for a tongue-in-cheek (sort of) review of the similar "Empire State" bike.

https://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009...te-empire.html

Metricoclock

I'd go with the OP's than yours. Spend some time at a bike shop and watch the crap that rolls in off the street day after day after day after day. His, would only be coming in for a wheel truing and be set to go once he got it. Unlike many of the geared big box store bikes, may it be mountain, road or hybrid that can be nothing but repetitive trouble. For a cheap bike simple and true always wins.