Recomend me a bike?
 

Hi everyone, new here, and didn't know where to field this question.

I just recently moved close to work, in a nice area with bike lanes and stuff, and since I only work about 2 miles away from my house, I was thinking of getting a bike to commute on.

Frankly, I've no idea where to start.

I've not even ridden a bicycle in probably 10 years, and know nothing about bikes for adults.

I live in Austin Tx, and the bike culture here is pretty big, and there are lots of specialty shops and things. I've been browsing craigslist, but it seems everything thats not a walmart special is fairly expensive, and the resell value is fairly high in my area

Here is what I'm looking for.
- Something under $200, but need something better than a super-store level quality.
- simple and minimal. ( honestly wouldn't mind a fixie or single speed )

Are there any new bikes that fit that? or should I try to find used? all the used ones on my local craigslist are either above my limit into the $400+ range or are too big/small for me.

I really like the idea of buying an old beater road bike and converting it to a single speed and painting the frame, but I fear that that will end up costing me more than I had planned.

I've also seen some of the cheaper SS's at retail stores, and was wondering if it was worth buying one of those and fixing it up and replacing some of the cheaper materials on it.

Any ideas, tips, or suggestions are welcome.

At $200, I'd buy a used bike from craigslist. You could go internet direct (if you're competent around tools) but that will run north of your budget, Track Bkes | SingleSpeed Bikes | Fixie | Windsor Bikes - The Hour | Save up to 60% off Fixed gear and singlespeed bicycles

Determine your SIZE.

Then keep checking on Craigslist.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=442611

my worry is that I don't know enough about bikes on CL, that I may end up buying something thats in poor condition without knowing it.

Then its a good idea to learn more about Bikes, by doing your homework - go visit bike shops, and perhaps a CoOp..

U Tex ought to have one.. should be a place that rebuilds Bikes for resale in a City of that size.

Where to start is your fit. Until you know about what size you fit, you'll have a hard time shopping for a used bike. Your mid-$400 budget should allow for a good reliable bike with a full set of gears. If you buy at the $200 level, I'd advise you purchase a frame for $200 and build it from there. Used wheels with tires for $100, used groupset $75, used saddle/handle/stem/peals for $25.

Austin Craigslist Ads:
Start with private (no dealers) ads priced between $500-750. If you look at your budget number (mid-$400) you'll only see what you don't need to bargain for and you definitely want to bargain.

a) MUST SELL TODAY - CX Disc Gravel Grinder - Custom Build - 56cm This one is $650 and says "must sell today". It looks really nice and I'd show up with $500 in cash and steal it today.
Pros: Good quality components and parts. Freshly painted frame. Good fit for someone looking for a commuter. Cons: No name frame.

b) Cannondale Claris 8 speed Here's a CAAD8 for $675. Bike is new but no size listed. Will it fit you? How much will seller reduce the price? There's only one way to find out on the price.

Set your sights high for your price point. Don't let what's advertised on Craigslist at "your price" deter you from looking at better bikes.

Good luck.

Every decent sized city has a bike club including Austin. I've never been to Austin but could find information on your local club in about 5 seconds. Here's a link to the site: Austin Cycling Association & Bike Austin | Bike Austin One of their stated goals is education so this would be a worthwhile place to start. Contact them and ask if there is a member who would be willing to help you chose a bike. Here's the contact information: Contact Bike Austin | Bike Austin Fixing a bike isn't rocket science and you can find online tutorials in many places, even videos on youtube. Two that I like are Sheldon Brown-Bicycle Technical Information and the Park Tool site: Park Tool Co. » ParkTool Blog

$200 doesn't get you anything new worth riding (IMHO of course!) They might look nice but are built to the cheapest standards possible and are usually very heavy. I wouldn't waste time and money on trying to upgrade a used bike that cost $200 new either. That's even a worse waste of time and money.

...and if they're not willing to drop their price, you could probably find a brand new Specialized Allez with Claris for that price at a bike shop right now, last year's model at least.

In fact I would advise the OP to go to a bike shop and see what they have used. All of my LBSs have used bikes, and there are bargains to be had, and at least you know that it's a bike in good condition (assuming they offer a warrantee).

I agree with the posters who have encouraged you to find a local co-op. They likely have pretty good bikes that have been donated. They can teach you how to fix one up. The benefit is that you get a bike you know fits you, is of good quality, and you know how to maintain it yourself. Even if they don't have a bike that fits you, someone there will probably be willing to help you sort out what's a good deal on CL. Then, when you have the bike, you can bring it in to tune it up.