yeah I would but they dont have one bike there under like $700... Im not looking to spend that much right now, not till after BMT.. I think I found a good entry level bike I want to get when that time comes.. its a Mercier Aquila It doesnt look too bad.. Tiagra components, nice and tall since im 6'1".. I figure its not too bad for only $625..

What do you all think about this as an entry level bike?

They may not have any performance road bikes under $700, but they do have many bikes under $700. They can also order just about any bike you want. I bought a bike there that they didn't stock, but they fit it and provided extenstive followup help, repair, adjustment, etc. at no charge. The cost was quite a bit below what other Tempe/Chandler/Mesa LBSs quoted.

They (and other LBS) also can help with re-building fixing up a used bike or frame, etc. Sure one can do alot yourself, but there are some infrequently tools that you may not want to buy upfront. They helped me build up an old bike for about $25 in labor costs for the items I couldn't do myself.

Now I am not suggesting that you can find or order the bike you want from them or a different LBS, but that if you engage in discussion and understand options you may learn better what you need/want and what your options are and that getting a good relationship with an LBS can be very helpful in the long run.

Al

i totally agree on the building a relationship with an LBS .. never know when you can get a hook up or two.. free mainenance and tuneups etc.. when i go to my next station, ill start hitting the LBS' up.. for now im just going to buy a beater..

I never said you were stupid. Engines and Propulsion is a much better career field than crew chief, as far as future jobs. If that's what your paperwork says, that's what you got. But hey, you obviously know more about it than I do, right? Good luck with your plan to work on planes and not go to the desert.

Your latest post of an entry level bike looks fine. I would agree with most of the advice here that states you would be better off in the time you have remaining before BMT to just go with a used bike. Take the time you have in Tech school to learn more about riding and the bikes. Once you get to your first duty station and have a better understanding of what being an Airman entails (to include your deployment rotation schedule as part of the USAF's Expeditionary Air Force) and will help you decide how much of your hard earned dollars are going to be spent on a bike that you might see for a couple of months between 6-12 month rotations. You might get lucky and get sent to a base that doesn't deploy to support the GWOT but unless you volunteer to go to Korea I'm not seeing it.

Have fun with what ever you do but make sure you pay close attention to what they are telling you. It's what'll keep you alive and out of jail.

Happy riding.

yeah there is also a chance i am going to be on the Air Force cycling team, if i get the correct paperwork in on time.. they will provide me with a simple bike etc.. and then Ill eventually buy my own nice bike, and i mean like $2k+.. but yeah twahl you are right about making sure i know what im doing, its better than most of the guys who go in and freak out because they get sent to war because they put "open general" and got exactly what they requested haha..

but yeah thanks guys for all your help..