Looking for a good entry level bike
 

Hi guys! I've been looking into buying a decent, cheap entry level bike for college. After my first quarter at college, I've found out how reliant I am on a bike, and am in the process of looking for a good road bike. I don't see a recommendation forum so I hope this is the right place to post this, if not. I apologize.

I'm pretty clueless about bikes, as I have just really started to gain an interest on them.

My budget is around $500, I'll be willing to go a little higher depending on how much better it would be, but not too much, especially being a college student... And the fact that I don't want this thing to get stolen.

I've been looking around on Craigslist, and Ebay, but I haven't really come up with much, and I don't want to buy a bike and not know what to look for...

I've also been looking on Ebay. There's a user by Chicabike, and there's a lot of mixed reviews on how "good" they are. So far I'm looking at the Dawes 1000 and the Dawes 1200, and was wondering if these would be good bikes, and the difference between them to justify the $50 difference...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ALUMINUM-CAR...QQcmdZViewItem
Dawes 1200

http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-ALUMINUM-RO...QQcmdZViewItem
Dawes 1000

I'm going to head around to my local stores, but from what I've seen at Davis, the prices are pretty high, and there aren't too many that would be in my price range. My roommate did pick up a Scattante from Performance bikes for about $600, but the Performance bikes does not seem to sell the 330 series any longer.

I'm located in the Bay Area, so if anyone knows a good store that specializes in cheaper road bikes for people wanting to get in... please tell.
I'm really open to any suggestions, ideally I'd like to get the bike before I head back to school which would be the 5th of January... Thanks guys!

Edit: I don't like tube shifters... at all, sorry. Rode a bike with tube shifters, and it felt really awkward.

I bought my Jamis for $500, but it is not the high quality that a lot of people ride. I have put over 5000 miles on it in about 16 months though.

Where did you pick it up if you don't mind me asking? At the bike store in Davis, the Jamis is $1500 =\

at the stores the selection will be pretty crap for 500, my friend has the same budget and we are just patiently watching craigslist hoping that something nice will come up around the holidays as people sell their stuff off to get christmas gifts

i would say one of the most important things to look at is components, try to get something with at least shimano 105 components, most importantly the shifters, crankset and rear derailleur. shimano ultegra, ultegra SL, and dura ace are all better than 105 and would also be good choices (although i doubt you will find dura ace for your budget).

i usually see some pretty good bikes in my area for 5-700, cannondale, felt, specialized, giant are all good brands to look for

you will also want to find out what size frame you need, probably best to go to an lbs and ask them

I tried to go this route. After a month of, sorry it's all ready been sold, I gave up.

I'm 5'6, and I can ride my friend's 54" or 56" well...

Thanks for the advice.

Edit: Thanks, I'll look for that K2 and the bike store when I go.

if you can work a wrench, how about a bikes direct bike?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...galaxy_al8.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1500.htm

Check out a Trek 1000. A new one is around $700.

Is the Dawes 1500 worth it over the 1200?

you should see if this bike is still available

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/955740626.html

(no i don't have anything better to do)

Oo. Thanks.

Would it be possible to convert a bike from tube to handle shifters at some point?

You could probably find a used road bike with STI brake/shifters for $500-600.

If not then you're limited to something like a Bikesdirect.com bike (Dawes, Mercier, Motobecane) or something like a Forge or Iron Horse from Amazon or Target.

The bikesdirect bikes are much the same, just pick the one that has a decent level of compnents (Sora is good for this $ range) and the colour/styling you like.

Make sure you know what size you need.

Alright. Sounds like BikesDirect is the way to go if the bike stores around here don't have anything.

It sounds like I need a 54" according to the Chicabike. Would a 58" be too bad? I'm waiting on this deal for a Fuji bike, but it's a 58"... I'm 5'6"

you're 5'6 and you're gonna ride a 54? that sounds big even for me and im 5'7 i ride a 52
but 58 is definitely too big

I live in Iowa. I tried looking at multiple bike brands by hitting the stores that were obvious to me and I found some by a Google search. Was treated poorly at the Trek stores in Omaha, so I went to True Wheel in Council Bluffs. Told them what I wanted to do and they helped me out. They also got business from three of my friends because of the word of mouth.

58cm is way too big for someone who is 5'6". I'm almost 5'10" and ride a 56cm.

Yea, if you're 5' 6", you should be rocking a 52....or even 50....

I'm 5'7" and rock a 52...

Look for some 2008 models, and do it quickly. At my LBC they have the 2008 specialized Allez for $600. I know its a little over budget, but it would be worth going over by a little

Was going to suggest the same as H.A.W.G. Make sure to watch your LBS's as they will more than likely be discounting their 2008 stock. I know around here in upstate NY some of the stores have bikes discounted up to 25% off.

Thanks for the information, I'm going to hit Performance bikes tomorrow.

Since you are small, there are still some last year's model deals that might work:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...x?SSAID=254257
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Bike+2008.aspx

I recommend the Forge CTS 1000. It's a sweet little road bike for relatively little money. I've put about 220 problem-free miles on mine since October.

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5008/p1080405cz6.jpg

Whoa! Nice, I might just end up getting that one.

If you're 5' 6" you need a 50 or 52 at the most.