Hello I am a college student and I need advice on what road bike to get. I never used a road bike before. i have a bike similar to this one https://www.jensonusa.com/product/BI/BI301B35.jpg, I got it at walmart but it breaks apart every time I ride it and only the first 3 gears work good plus it would be pretty emberrasing to show up to school with one of those.

What do you guys think about this bike. Is the price good? is the brand ok? is it sexy enough to show up at school with ? is it fast? can it handle 17 miles 5 days per week?
Can you guys give me your top 5 picks. PLZZ!!!!

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1581571211.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1582644058.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1582637875.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1581610291.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1581568040.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1581423577.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1581255515.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1579563873.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/bik/1579424862.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1578529293.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/bik/1578526947.html

sorry about all the choices but I really want my first road bike to be good.

There's a number of nice bikes on that list but there's a huge range in sizes. Figuring out what size you need will help narrow down the list.

If you're a shorter guy that Bridgestone looks like a good deal. The Univega also isn't bad.

+1
my thoughts exactly. 51cm to 58cm is a very large gap. Find size first then shop later. You will regret a bike you just purchase if it's too big or too small.

This is the real reason isn't it?
Welcome my newbie commuter, whichever bike you choose, get a good lock or two to go with it!

And what the others said about fit is sage advice

haha. thats funny how you highlighted will. cause my name is william. But yeah i am not that tall i am 5*8 5*9 i think. So i can still get a 53 cm one right? why would I regret one that is not my perfect size?

Hi William, 53cm or 54cm sound about right for 5'8. I'm almost that height and can ride a 54cm, but my inseam may differ from your(different gender have slightly different inseam for same height). I tried 56cm and my front wheel gets too wobbly at super slow speed.

You mentioned speed in your post, a bike that too small for you will suffer in efficency. You may find your self pedaling much harder than needed if the frame is too small. You can raise your seat in a smaller frame bike, but you may not get enough setback on your seat and find your pedal too far behind you. First place you will feel this is on an incline.

A large frame may become problem to dismount when waiting at the light. For me, a too large of a frame create issue with my reach with the handle bar although I can change stem to accomondate it. Personally, I rather go too large of a frame than too small if I was given limited choice such as buying from CL.

Oh yes, one more fun note. A frame way small for you may look funny and that's may not be "sexy" as noted on your original post. Then again, I'm not in college anymore and maybe that the current trend these days

wow! you have lots to choose from!
get the correct size
make sure the bike works head to toe and examine the wheels closely (the best wheels win)
test ride test ride test ride

On an older road bike where the top-tube is parallel to the ground (rather than sloping down toward the seat) it's easier to get away with a frame that's too small rather than one that's too big. Still, there has to be enough adjustment on the seat height so you that can almost fully extend your leg when the pedal is in the 6:00 position.

That's just the seat. If the top tube or head tube is too short you might have to get a different stem. While you can get a bike to fit with a new stem, it may adversely affect that handling if too much of your weight is over the front wheel.

At your height you may be between a 52cm and 56cm roadbike size. I'd say go to a bike shop and have them size you. Go on a few test rides on different sized bikes to see which one you feel is the most comfortable. That should give you a good idea of what size to look for. Its more important to get a bike you are comfortable on and in decent shape than it is about the name on the frame.