Good afternoon bike people,
I will be moving into the city in about a month and will not have a car. I am close to public transportation and am able to take the subway to the only two places I really need to go (school and work). However I would also like to get a bike so I can get some exercise in on nice days and ride to work or school and for any small trips in which public trans. is not the most convenient choice. Work is 1.5 miles away and school is 3 miles away so neither of these trips are very far. With all this said, I know very little about bikes and which brands are considered good or bad quality. I am looking to spend no more than $250.

I found this bike on groupon for $200.00 when it's original price is apparently $400.00. It's a Galaxie Fixed gear bike and I know nothing about this brand. Fixed Gear Bikes Deal of the Day | Groupon

I found this 2nd bike on Urban Outfitters for $400.00 but I am able to get 1 40% employee discount which would knock it down to $240.00. It's a Sole The ZISSOU Bike. I also know nothing about this brand.

Which of these two deals is a better option? Also is there any other bikes you can recommend which are nice for the price but still under my $250.00 budget?

All your input and expertise is appreciated in advanced.

Thanks,
Sean

You don't want a fixed gear bike.
Problem A, solved.

Also Urban Outfitters sells bikes?

For $250 you're not going to get much. I'd troll Craigslist and find a bike in decent condition to begin with.

Crowd sourced consumerism, decision making .. what a world

What do I want? haha i'm clueless.

There are loads of $400 bikes being sold for $200. I would doubt one ever actually sold for over $200. That's just a "list" price and anyone can set a price on anything, that is irrelevant to it's actual value. Keep in mind that two hundred bucks will just barely buy a set of bottom line decent wheels. Tires extra.

The seat angle of the bike on Groupon is enough to prove they know nothing about bikes. No builder would let that photo be published anywhere.

There is not enough information on the Urban Outfitters site to tell anything about the bike. The seat angle is ok and at least they out the single brake on the right end. It looks just like another $200 bike. Your discount puts in the correct line.

One of fietsbob's rare long winded moments.

Usually he would just say "no".

That the advantage of shopping in person .. you can see what your options are and talk to the people that put the bike together ..
its why I suggest real Bike shops , they can help the clueless to at least pick up 1 clue.

That's all you had to say. No need to get angry. Yes, that option obviously makes more sense but I'm at work and the systems are down and I have time to kill so I figured I would see if you guys could help me, that's all.

For $200 you can get a cheapo new bike that could last a year and then you recycle, or an OK used bike on CL. If that's your budget, go with CL.

fire and brimstone coming down from the sky! rivers and seas boiling! forty years of darkness! earthquakes, volcanoes! the dead rising from the grave! human sacrifice, dogs and cats; living together! mass hysteria!

Never heard of Galaxie. But the cheapest brand new common fixed gear bikes like Purefix or Retrospec start out around $250, and Craigslist asking price for entry level bikes of that nature (used) are between $160-200. Considering your short commute distances and if you aren't looking to catch the "addiction", it seems like on ok starter/commuter bike, not great, but putting into perspective it's intended use, you'll be alright if you are willing to adjust to fixed gear riding.

Normally I'd say look at Craigslist for opportunities but you're not going to know what to look for or how to maintain/fix a second or third hand bike and you could be waiting a while before you found a good condition quality used bike that comes in your size.

Basically $250 is a pretty small budget, options at that level are all going to be mediocre at best.

to elaborate, you most likely don't want a fixed gear bike because on a fixed gear bike you can't coast. if the wheels are moving, your legs are moving. it's fixed. there's no resting unless you're stopped. they're a niche market bike. look elsewhere unless you're a hipster with a beard.

i wouldn't buy clothes from urban outfitters, let alone a bike -which they are not makers of. So I'd look elsewhere there too.

You can try going to a bike shop, but they won't have any bikes for $250 unless they stock old trade ins and used bikes. You're better off going to a pawn shop or like I said, troll craigslist for one thats the right size or you like the look of. If you want a "good" bike - ie: a brand name bike that's not from Wal-mart, you're going to need around $450.

thanks guys.

and no i'm not a hipster, and can hardly grow a beard

For the distances and destinations involved and taking into account the budget... I'd suggest getting a decent entry-level skateboard and then take the time to save up and educate yourself before your bike purchase.

I am gonna get flamed, but here goes..............

Why not buy a Big Box bicycle at a department store and start out with that. You can get a new, cheap bike for $100 and it will last a few years easy and with your short commute, it will be perfect for you. You don't need a road bike and lycra pants and a pointy helmet and you don't want a fixed gear. The ideal beater would be a department store mountain bike and not much fear of it getting stolen either.

I beat an old Huffy for a while before I upgraded to a better bike, but still love my old beater...................



After beating that awhile I patienly read this forum and learned about bikes and browsed Craigslist and my patience paid off when I found this super rare Reflex Carbon for $100.............



This is from a guy who just started out riding a few months ago and can't get enough riding in! Love it. Good luck on your search!

Blinded by stereotypes are we? Considering the distances he's described he'd be well served by a simpler single gear set up.

Sean, yes fixed gear riding has a learning curve since you can't coast, but if you decide you want to coast you can buy a freewheel for $10 to convert it to a single speed instead of a fixed cog.

That's an excellent deal and I would recommend that you buy one.

It's the standard Create/Mango bike.

I have one and I do 20km RT daily on it (13 miles or so).

I should hit 2000 km (1300 miles) on it this week, with only a tire change.

I get lots of complements and beside the tires, it's been OK.

Here is a link to my usage of it ...

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...term-test.html

ok ... i'd bet the cost of that bike that it has a rear flip/flop hub that does single speed freewheel or fixed gear.

just buy the damn thing and get your use of it!

Besides, it's an urban/school bike. It'll get stolen within the first year

I'm 56 years old complete with gray hair and belly. I commute 6 miles one way on my fixed gear rain or shine. It's got lights and fenders, nothing hip about me. I leave my geared bike at home for weekends and for when I'm trying to set a new time record for my commute.

Any "colorful fixie" is going to be like flushing your money down a toilet. That bike is a prime example of a company trying to cash in on a trend with cheap heavy steel frame, no name components with several loud color combos to attract the attention of buyers that don't know about bikes.

If you want a mail order fixie/single speed bike get one for $300-400 from Bikesdirect. Or search craigslist.

Where will you be living? Is having a single speed bike even an option (i.e. are their hills?)? As others have said if you are locking up , epecially on a college campus or big city or both it'll get stolen so might as well spend $150 on a craiglist bike even if it's a mountain bike

As someone with a colourful fixie, I wholeheartedly disagree.

What city? If you're on a budget,and don't know much/anything about bikes,then a co-op or bike kitchen would be the best bet for you. Here's a list of most of the ones in US cities,look yours up.
Bicycle Collective and Co-op Links

Actually,I do occasionally stop by the local UO to check out their sale rack. I've picked up a civilian version of the military GoreTex in black pinstripe,and a sweet oilskin drover coat;each was under $40! Yeah,most of the stuff is hipster junk,but I have found some gems.

Wow!
A lot of fixie hate here in the commuting forums.
OP, if fixed gear and/or single speed intrigues you, post your querry in that forum.
You are apt to get a few helpful answers...especially from europa, Scrod, Nagrom, and a few others.