As it stands, I've been a total fatty since I stopped riding years ago. I used to rock a whole lot of S&M© "BMX"ing. Now that I'm older(mid-20's), I'm looking to get back into riding, but am lost. I've seen the growing fad of SS/FG, but don't know where to start and want to avoid looking like the local college kids.

I'm wondering how to go about obtaining a bike? Should I look to do a conversion or should I just buy a track bike and then customize from there?

I'd say that my starting budget is around $200, but I expect to dump some significant money for good components. I know what style I'm going for, but really don't have a clue as to what brands I should be looking for...if any.

First: I want a somewhat sloped frame if I can get it, like a Felt Curbside. However, I like the look of Charge track bikes.

Second: I will probably fully customize it once I accrue more money/time, so the initial color/accessories don't bother me. And to clarify, I want a S/S. I plan on commuting around to and fro/going to work.

Third: I just want to ride, so I'm looking for a quick fix solution.

I found a new Dawes MTA online for $210+$40 S/H, but not sure if that's a good place to start. I'd rather start with a new bike, and then mess it up with my own personal touches.

It wouldn't surprise me to find a general apathy towards my post, but I'd appreciate any input I can get. Either way, thanks in advance...and if you suck, then I will retract my gratitude.

Attached picture is of the Dawes that I'm contemplating purchasing. Yay/Nay?

use the search function. there are 1000000000000 threads on here with the same topic

****, I usually just lurk in SS/FG but frankly:

Conversions are fine. But since you have zero idea about chain tension, chain line, what it'll take to dish and fit a rear wheel appropriately to convert anything - that's out of the way for you unless you can find someone willing to impart the knowledge of do the conversion for you.

Cheap is cheap. There is no 'cheap and good' imho. I have a 'cheap' Origin8 fixed-gear commuter bike that was designed by them to be just that - and it sucks still mostly.

I have a Surly Karate Monkey that I invested a LOT of money in and it's worth every penny or more to me.

I also have a LHT and can see the value of having a quality geared bike compared to a 20 year old beater geared bike.

With that said, I'm going to go out on a limb and say, even if you worked for a LBS like I do, that $200 isn't going to stretch.

Save up and buy a C'mute Pake frame and fork. Look around, use the search function and find out what BB/Crank/Hubs/wheel set.

That's the 'cheap' way to go, and without sitting down and doing the math for you - I'm going to wager that you're still looking at a $900ish investment to have something that's not a total piece of crap and will put up with commuter mileage.

Of course, I'm nobody honestly - someone else can probably give you a lot more information and tell you that your $200 investment is WAY more than is needed for a B/A whip.

I know there are other threads like this elsewhere on the forum, and I apologize for adding to the pile of corpses. However, the ones I saw didn't answer the question/s I have.

To Santaria, thanks for the advice. My main point is that I want to start riding now, and am wondering if getting a basic full built bike for cheap right now, AND then slowly upgrading components would be a good idea. Or if I should just suck it up and save more money to buy a Kilo or the like. My basic idea is to buy an entry level frame(that just happens to have the other parts so I can ride now) and then upgrade slowly until I can finally upgrade the frame.

Am I being hasty?

i see two options for you:

1. look on craiglist (or elsewhere) for a conversion. i got an old fuji for $180 about a year ago and it's been great. i'm just now starting to take longer rides and wanting something nicer - i'm trying to decide whether to upgrade the drivetrain on my current bike or start fresh with a new bike. changing out the parts sounds fun and i'd like to learn, but i'm hesitant to take it apart and put money into it when it's working fine as is. i'll probably end up holding onto it as a beater and saving up for a new bike.

2. up your budget a bit and get a low-end real bike. i'm trying to decide between the mercier kilo tt for $350, or an IRO bike for ~600. i'm leaning towards the IRO, because it seems like a solid bike that i will be happy with for a long time. but if you're goal is to get up and running, the mercier sounds perfect. read throuhg the long thread about them, it's been active lately.

good luck, and have fun!

edit: just reread your post and saw you are already looking at the kilo. i'd say go for it, it sounds like a killer deal for $350. i don't think you're going to do much better - just make sure you do some research and get the right size.

Having built my own ss and 1x8 commuter conversion(s) they were valuable from a learning experience perspective. Had them both sandblasted/powdercoated(unnecessesarily ). Found comps online and/or on hand, too. That all being said, I say buy the Dawes and get out and ride. It looks like a fair deal and you'll pay that much or more w/a yardsale/pawnshop/thriftsore find conversion.

If you decide to go w/a new ride there're several in the 3-400.00 price range @ bikesdirect.com. My experience w/them has been good. Get one w/a flip-flop hub and BRAKES Then if you decide to go fixie you're already there.

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking I might either just upgrade a little and the the Dawes SST or save up a little more and rock the Kilo. Biggest thing is, I just wanna ride again. I'll worry about comps and the aesthetic later. I just didn't want to get duped if I bought from bikesdirect. But from what I've read around the intertubes today, they seem fairly legit. Not the best bikes, but a decent starter bike.

I appreciate the help.

Do not buy any bike that can be had for $200 brand new. You are throwing your money away on a piece of garbage. Either start lurking craigslist, or save up some more money.

$200 wont buy anything except conversions from the used market. That might be a good place to start for you? $350 gets you a new cheap bikesdirect.com bike with a decent/good frame and bad parts that you can upgrade later. There are some new bikes on ebay of similar price range and people seem to think they are similar quality to BD bikes or a bit worse, I'm not clear on the real facts of that. Any new bike you order online may need grease, it may need things tightened and wheels trued, and you will have to put some of it together yourself or have a shop do it. That is going to cost extra. Also consider price of lock and tools you may need.

Well, you seem to be eyeing up road bikes... I'm a mountain biker, but I'll tell you what I did...

I got a Diamondback Response Sport at the turn of 2009. It was marked @ 100 off (350 total) since it was an 08 model. It's noted in the mountain bike forums as having a solid frame and construction, however, very mediocre parts. I've upgraded almost everything on it except the crank, which IMO is fine. I spent a few bucks and converted it. My gosh I love that thing a whole lot more now. It's solid, smooth, seems to glide real fast, everything about it I just love, and converting it helped quite a bit too.

I know by nature road bikes are typically more expensive than mountain bikes, but my story concludes I spent 350 on a mountain bike hardtail (on sale), which IMO is a great hardtail bike to buy since it actually is a very nice bike and it will get you riding that day, and over time hopefully swap some things out for better parts. Solid frame, decent cranks, mediocre components, but nonetheless it's an all in one ready-to-ride package that can handle quite a bit of abuse.

Couple that with an SS chain, 32T chainring, and a rear cog + spacer kit and I've probably spent in the area of 55-60 to convert, 350 for the bike.

Again, this is for a mountain bike hardtail. I can only assume road biking will be a bit different, and if anything, a bit more expensive. But, alas, that's my story.

My main focus is getting back into biking, AND also getting my girl into biking. Which means I need to get two of whatever I get(more or less). Hence my wanting to find a halfway decent starter bike for me/her that won't break the bank.

EDIT: Just saw your post Roasted.

I wouldn't completely rule out a hard tail frame. Actually, of all the road bikes I've looked at, I like the Felt Curbside the best...which is kinda urban mountain bike-y.
Someone posted a picture of this bike in the "show off your bike" thread. I love it, but where do I find a bike like that, and what is it even called?

I'd spend more money up front and get a new bike in the $500+ price range if you can swing it. Otherwise, finding a used conversion on Craigslist is probably the best bang for the buck.

Buying parts individually and/or upgrading can get expensive really quickly. You'll get more value if you buy a good complete bike or a used one fully built up, instead of buying something cheap and trying to upgrade it part by part.

Some of the best values on Craigslist are older road bikes that would make great conversions. The fixed gear craze is kind of big right now, so FG bikes seem to command a premium that older road bikes don't. Of course older road bikes won't have a sloping frame geometry, so that may not appeal to you.

AIRchrist,

If what you have to spend is $200 and you want new then I'd say buy a beach cruiser and use the rest as the beginning of your savings. I'm dead serious. Here's why - there is no such thing as a new $200 bike that is worth upgrading - period and there is no such thing as a new $200 bike that runs anything but coaster brakes that is safe. But, if you purchase cruisers you can get back out on the road and once you have your finances together and you purchase reasonable quality, safe bikes the crusiers become your town beaters. You don't want anything to happen to them but if they get stolen or molested it's not the end of the world. Used is a whole different ball game as you can always get lucky at a garage sale/goodwill/whatever.

Agree 100%. The only way to do it for $200 is to find a good deal on an older road bike from Craigslist or whatever and convert it yourself. Deals can be found. I recently bought a beautiful 80's hand made Italian lugged bike with full Campy Super Record components on CL for $500. That bike probably sold for $1500 or more new 25 years ago! Just the seatpost, saddle and wheels on that bike would bring $500 on Ebay right now. The tires alone would cost $130 to buy new now. My point is that if you want a deal, buy a complete used bike, don't try to build one up or upgrade components on a cheap one. There are plenty of people looking to clear an old bike out their garage who are happy to get a few hundred bucks for something they aren't using. One man's trash is another man's treasure....

I've got a 2008 Motobecane Fantom CX from BD. It's got over 8000 commuter miles on it w/just routine maintenance. I swapped out the stock cx tires for some Schwalbe Marathon Plus. It's my main commuter and has been a workhorse w/entry level comps. I paid 500.00 for it delivered in May/08. Will get a MB Messenger when I go to get a fixie. If you have any bike mechanic skills and tools I'd highly recommend going this route. If you decide against going w/the Dawes that is.

And the suggestion to try an mtb based ss is a good one, too. In commuting urban for about 5 years I used a 94 Fuji Discovery I found at a pawnshop(50.00) and it was a phenomenal all-weather urban assault vehicle. Very little maintenance and just recently gave it to a friend of mine who rebuilds bikes as a church ministry. He gives them to kids. The mtb frame w/smaller wheels gave me a nimbleness in heavy traffic a cx or road bike simply don't have. So, that's an option, too.