So I thank the people who encouraged me to go to a bike shop and gave me advice in general. I'm still not sure I'm going to be able to buy a bike from a shop though, because they might be out of my price range ever so much.

However, Since then I've noticed there are bikes that are exactly like I had envisioned when I started looking for an urban commuter.

I saw the Scott SUB 10, and it had everything I wanted, slightly wider road tires, disc brakes, rack mounts etc. The only problem was that it cost around $1,000 and that's WAY out of my price range. But there's also the SUB 20 and SUB 30, though the 30 foregoes the disc brakes.

With a little more research I found the Trek SU line, which is essentially the same thing. Basically an Urban MTB more or less, with a fixed fork, disc brakes, and slick tires. The SU 2.0 might be in my price range but I will definitely have to stretch my budget.

Now my questions are: Do bike shops generally move on the price? I think theres a really low chance I'll find either bike sitting in any of the 8 LBS surrounding my home. If I have to have a LBS order it I feel like that might be a bit more expensive.

Does anyone know of any other bikes in the 'budget' category that are road oriented w/ disc brakes that I'm missing in my search? (drop bars or no)

Its possible to get a better price on a 2007 model. Also try asking for things like a kickstand, racks and other needed items as an alternative to asking for a discount.

The Giant Sedona DX has disc brakes, 21 speeds and Multi-Surface 26x1.95 tires for about $425.

Michael

Hachi- Why are you so fixated on disc brakes?

Unhealthy obsession I guess.

Brakes really seem pretty important to me though, seeing as my city riding will be in central SF and I wont really be able to avoid steep hills all the time, and from what I understand steep hills magnify the value of disc brakes. It seems like traffic would also make disc brakes more usefull. It's also the reason why I'm looking for a non fixed gear or single speed. I always found hills to be much easier with more than one gear, not that I've done that much riding.

I've heard people try to say that disc brakes are only worthwhile if they are fluid disc, which I honestly cant comment on, but I'm still fairly convinced that mech disc is better than rim brakes in general, and particularly in the low end where I'm looking.

I also found a similarly specced marin that is significantly uglier at the same price.

I've still been thinking about road bikes every once in a while, and while I'm looking at bikes closer to the budget road range (the cheapest road bike I've found is the Raleigh Sport, at 520, which is cheaper than the SU 2.0) Still considering the SUB 30 though, even though it's neither a straight up road bike nor does it have disks, but I still have no idea if it will even be possible to get and I don't know if It's worth it.

Looking for a bike has been really stressful Between finding out that the only non mail order roadbike that I can almost afford is a raleigh and it doesn't particularly have any of the features I want, and finding out that the things I would like in a bike put me way way over my budget... Part of me wishes I hadn't asked anyone for advice and just bought a bike online out of ignorance.

That Marin was probably the Muirwoods 29er, wasn't it? That one is on my 'if I only had more money' list.

Okay, now down to business: Would you consider KHS?

1. In their Urban series, they have one w/discs for $519, the Urban Xcel. It comes w/ front shock, but you might get the LBS to swap it for a rigid at time of sale.

2. As for the budget road bike, take a look at their Flite 220 triple. msrp of $499, and it's steel!

In a surprising turn of events I decided to cruise Ebay and craigslist some more looking for a good deal on a budget. I found an '07 Motobecane Fantom on ebay used that is for sale by a private party in my city for what is potentially a very good price, particularly because there will be no shipping as he agreed to let me come pick it up + pay in cash.

My only worry is that it might be slightly too big, it's a 58, but they measure it from the top of the seat tube or something. I am fairly sure I can standover a 59 Raleigh Sport because I've done it, and generally a 56 has been recommended to me (though a 54 was recommended once and a 58 recommended once)... Unfortunately it ends in like 8 hours.

I know the brand is very stigmatized around here but this is the kind of deal people here say you should try to get when your a) poor and b)looking for a good bike, so my instinct is to go for it... Anyhow I'm not sure what I'm saying. Just typical apprehensions and I figure people here are sick of me at this point, I just hope I can win it and it ends up fitting me. (I'm 5'10'' or so and my inseam is 84cm or something... I don't even have a tape measure here... sigh)