What to do with $600?
 

I want to know the best way to get into road cycling with a $600 budget. My goal here is to be riding in the club races by next season, in the hopes to get sponsored for the season after that.

Do I:
1- buy an entry-level bike, last-year's-clearance type thing (probably Shimano Sora/Tiagra group)?
2- buy the Campy Xenon group and put it on a used but good frame that I'd buy with the leftover money?

Note: I want to buy local, to support the local bike shop for one and because I like to actually handle the merchandise that I will be buying. And I really can't spend anything more than $600 for the moment.

Thanks!
-S-

I'd advise you to look for a used bike on craigslist and be patient.

save it, then add more

Buy one (1) decent wheel.

#23 red (Jordan's number) - let it ride!!

$600 could get you safely into skateboarding. Although I get the feeling CF skateboards are rather pricey.

C'mmon thats mean...
 

LOL

$600 will get you a usable bike, but if $600 is all you have, don't spend it all on a bike. You could easily go through that much buying required accessories, like bib/jersey, gloves, helmet, pedals/shoes, shades, bottles, tubes, tools, lights, parts, etc.

Re-consider skateboarding.

I get it- it's not a lot of money. But the point here is that I want to get started. I gave up skateboarding because it was too high impact.

Looking patiently for a used bike is a good idea, except that I fear getting something that'll break on me- especially if I don't know its history. So that's why I was thinking of buying last season clearance.

I can wait...a little. Patience is a virtue I hear.

road cycling has done more to ruin my knees than skateboarding ever could

something like this. buy used.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TREK-ALPHA-SERIE...QQcmdZViewItem

spend the $600 on a gun, then rob a bank, then the money will start rolling in. it's called lose big, but win bigger... :lol:

Rent a bike and pick up a hooker.

I shall send you a self addressed, stamped envelope. That will solve your problem.....easily.

Think 70s/80s vintage. You should be able to pick up a nice setup for less than 100 bucks. The wheels may be garbage, so budget for those (~150) a decent seat (75) pedals/shoes (150) helmet (40) and a set of bibs and a jersey (85).

That'll put you right at 600 bucks.

buy a fixed gear bike, then once you can crush souls at your local club on that... then look for a geared bike

how will he race in prison?

yeah, you have to be careful running out of the shower...

Craigslist a bike that is a few years old anything aluminum will be just as good as anything. 105/ultegra/durace parts or campys are a plus. you could easily find a '99 or '00 bike for a 3-400 bucks. then just get some sweet shoes and make sure everything fits you.

+1 to CL

Get a nice bike from around the turn of the millenium and have fun.

cl is the way to go, the things that drive up the cost of bikes is all the modern stuff, if you want something that can go fast, but doesn't cost much, look for something without sti shifters and high end wheels. something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/SIZE-MED-CENTURI...QQcmdZViewItem

I would save a bit more and look for a good deal on an entry road bike (look in the under 750 bike thread). Good luck.

I would say check CL or buy BD (bikesdirect.com) and invest in a better wheelset. If it's a training bike that should work fine. My BD bike has been decent thus far. I had bottom bracket troubles, but they'll send you a replacement depending on how long it is after you've purchased and how many miles they have.

I'm still hesitant about going the "used route", especially on Al frames- if I don't know its history than I can't tell what damage it has incurred.

And though CL and BD sound like good places, I really want to stick to buying local. It's just one of those things. Maybe I can get hired at a LBS and get employee pricing on this stuff....

Looks like the best thing to do is hit up the bike clubs, start talking to people, and the word will get around that I'd like to ride something else than my mtb/street convert.

And patience. Lots of patience. (Although it's hard 'cause I just want to get riding!!)

Yeah, $600 at an LBS isn't going to be enough to get you started. The bike isn't too far off, but when you start talking about all the other stuff, it's not much money.

My wife's CL bike was $750 and came with SPD pedals, shoes, unused bottles, cages, saddle bag, CO2 inflator, Cateye computer, and a bunch of shorts and jerseys, most new with tags. This was all with an aluminum Specialized Dolce Elite (105/Ultegra mix). Nothing had more than 11 miles on it -- an older lady bought it hoping to get into it, but took a couple minor tumbes on her first ride and garaged the bike for a year. The tires still had the injection moulding seam down the centers.

We only spent two weeks looking before that deal came along. It was local too.