EDIT: Firstly stated, the title is a complete fail. Im looking for a bike LESS THAN 250

So I'd like to get into cycling a bit but dont have anywhere near a $600 staring bike budget.

Looking around craigslist I see I can find alot of old vintage bikes sub 250. Pretty much all of these seem to be sub-12 speed and down tube shifters.

Basically Im wondering what I should be looking at as I'm completely brand new to this. Which brands, models. ect are popular good choices for my price.

I saw a Specialized Allez Epic for 160 yesterday... Just my luck it was already gone before I even figured out what it was lol. Probably never see that price again.

On another note, I will say I'm rather curious what makes these bikes so expensive still, given that these used options are older than I am...
Being frank, I test road an aluminum Fuji bike yesterday (first time on roadbike) and was able to test ride it a good 20min on a local trail by the bike shop. It was in the $850 range. I cant remember the model but given the price range I'm assuming tiagra shifters?
I wasnt super impressed.
The bike road fine sure, was a bit on the rough side but nothing im not used to. Pedals were garbage. Funky design, not made for clip in shoes either, that I could hardly seat right to put power into. And most importantly for $850 it shifted badly IMO. Ive had cheap big store bought mountain bikes my whole life. Half of these shifted more smoothly and on the dime without missing a beat. This bike felt... clunky?

I suppose Im wondering if buying an old bike is going to be an even larger shock of not so impressive ride? Im not trying to knock the bikes. Riding that tester was really enjoyable and certainly different enough to intrigue me into the road bike once and for all. I can easily see how riding something like this at high speed or long distance is blatantly superior but at $850 I was far from impressed with the construction and materials used. Assumming bikes from 20 years ago are using seriously old gear it makes one wonder... And I'm guessing these old steel frame bikes are alot heavier? It was kinda neat being able to toss around the new bikes in shop with a couple fingers.

Thank you!

Paging D.D.Fred...

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2974232678.html

Nice looking bike. But about 200 out of my price range lol. I also need a 58

I was looking at these:
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2979098393.html schwinn
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2978395252.html centurion
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2975683788.html schwinn
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2974731370.html Trek
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bid/2967645522.html Peugeot
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bid/2967639781.htmlMiyata

OP: those are fine if that's all you can afford, the differences are minimal. Go ride the one that is closest and go from there.

?

Also, I guess I'll just try taking a peak at some of these bikes if differences are minimal. I had assumed there might be specific things I should look at. For instance, the allez epic has shimano 105, which I assume is a feature worth looking for.

i hear the McLaren Venge is pretty nice for >250

Screw me sideways... Figures I'm a math major too lol.

If It's not obvious to anyone, that was designed to be a "< less than sign"

Any way I can change the title?

Should be plenty of options. I picked up a KHS Flite 320 w/ Tiagra and Crankbrothers Quattro pedals for $350 on Craigs. I probably overpaid a bit, but even at $250, you are definitely not locked into older / vintage bikes.

I can.

Buy an old road bike but hold out for something made after the mid 80's so it has aero brake levers, 700c wheels, no sketchy / heavy stuff.

A nice old road bike (one thats old and still going for $250) should feel like a dream compared to a department store mountain/suburban sidewalk bike. I was shocked the first time I used my new-to-me 80s road bike's friction downtube shifters. Just go test them out and you'll find one that feels good.

For less than $250, you want the Venge. It might be hard to find, but that would definitely be the best for under $250. If you can't find a Venge at that price, then I suggest a Colnago or Pinarello.

<---- Feverishly searches Craigslist for the mythical $250 Colnago.

^ good advice.

Look for anything with a double butted chromoly frame, too. Or classic aluminum (Cannondale).

Centurion, Schwinn, Miyata, Trek, Univega, Raleigh, Bianchi -- lots of good stuff in the 80's that's not too pricey.

I have bought STI-equipped bikes (Sora, RSX) at and below $250.

I notice your from the Sacramento area. If you go to Davis they have a bike auction here coming up in the next few weeks. You can get starter frames in any size, shape, and design for very little money like 10 bucks a pop at times. I have seen beautiful road bike frames go for 20.

Thanks for the advise. Upon lots of further research I'm basically keeping an eye out for anything in my range that is double butted or better, chromoly, columbus, reynolds, shimano 105, 600, dura-ace. I've got a fair idea of what brands and models to look at now. Miyata seems like an easy one to fine since they were all chromoly double/triple butted. Just having an issue finding a near 58-frame size in the right bike. Tons of awesome options for short people lol.

I just found a Vitus 979 on CL, priced a bit to high for me but I'm going to see if he'll deal on it. I'm 6' 170lbs so I dont think itll be too noodlish for me

58cm is probably the second most common size (iirc, based on ebay listings). So you'll find something. IMO, bikes like these ought to be worth about $100-150. But we live in different markets and the price for these old classics may have gone up.

Looking around my market $150 seems to be the going price for any scrap of metal with two wheels. Ive found bikes literally selling for what they bought them for 30 years ago. In fact a large sector of the market puts bikes 150+ without even knowing the brand name much less a model. They just know its a "road bike" premium. Something with the above standards really ups the difficulty, especially if they know it. But if you look long enough you find jems.

You will find something eventually you just have to be patient, in the meanwhile keep researching and check craigslist every few hours