So confused!!!! Help me!!!
 

Ok so i decided i wanted a fixie right after i got my roadbike and started riding that. So i have a $20 allowance now and idk what to do. Because at first i though buying new was the way to go. And buying it new would only be llike $600 and i will have earned $400 by christmas and my parents said they would give me the remaining money for christmas if i still wanted it. But then, i looked on craigslist and i found some bikes that were $300 but they looked like they had better parts on them. Like stronger rims, and cooler paint jobs and stuff like that. So now im not sure whether to buy NEW or USED. and i know next to nothing about parts of a fixie.

So basically what im asking here is should i buy new or used? and when i go to buy a bike how do i know if it has good parts?


Also as far a brands: i have grown up on a bianchi and i really like them. But if another bike comes my way then thats fine 2

plus i dont want to order from the internet just beacause i cant ride it or anything id rather buy it from a bike shop. So from the comments im getting, im guessing u guys suggest buying new, and i assume that means that they have strong parts on them then

bikes direct get a windsor and put a front brake on it

Just so you know, the vast majority of people here will think you're a troll.

In this case, a "troll" is someone who is trying to be funny. They'll think you're making this all up for a laugh.


My strong recommendation is that you save up your money and do the christmas thing. You said you just got a road bike; ride that a lot. By christmas, you may have decided that you like your road bike better and would rather spend your money on upgrading that. If you still want the fixed gear, you'll have hopefully gained some more bicycling knowledge and will be better prepared to get the fixed gear that's right for you.

I hesitate to point you towards bikesdirect.com because you may jump the gun and waste your money on a bike that you won't ride 6 months from now, but that is always an option as well.

lol allowance.

dude im 14 so why the **** is an allowance weird? i know kids that are like 16 and still have an allowance

Because being from a family in a low income bracket (or possible no family at all!) is cool. Since you have an allowance (and parents) you are obviously not cool.

i'm 16 and never got an allowance. i just got a job :rolleyes:

If you replace parts as they break the bike lasts quite a bit longer than 6 months besides that gets the kid out riding for six months

I don't understand this mentality I have owned 2 kilo tts, still own a jury and an outcast 29er

Kilos killed both wheels sets within a month of owning them granted I am a manimal and weight over 200#
I also killed the powerspline cranks that used to come on them however both bikes are still on the road 4 and a half years later

3 months into it the 29er wheels failed so I replaced them the headset and bars now 2 years later the cranks have failed on me and are getting replaced next pay day

the jury well that was built with hand picked parts and is about a year old

seriously I don't get where you guys get off with all the hate it is a good cheap started bike for someone

Hell there was a guy from montreal at NACCC 2007 racing a bone stock windsor in the alleycat and at velo city

so seriuosly shun the non believer shun the non believer

You shouldn't use words like that if you're only 14. Unless BF censors "poop," then that's ok.

edit: nope, you used a bad word.

Hate to put words in peoples' mouths, but I believe he was talking about the kid stopping riding. Not him breaking a new bikesdirect bike because it's cheap.

lol ok well waht would u guys reccomend craigslist or a bike store?

+1

wait until Christmas and read stuff on this forum to help gain some knowledge. In the mean time, go learn to ride your bike on the street or something.

You're still growing though. It would really suck to have 2 bikes that in a year will probably be too small for you.

well the thing is i dont come from a big family and im like 5"4' so i really dont im gonna be over 5 8

Get a paper route kid! Quit moochin off your parents! In my day............ZZZZzzzzzzzz...........huh? you're still here? Get outta here!

you should start selling weed. if your friends dont smoke yet, turn them onto it. and profit. they'll be stoners soon enough, anyway. get in the game before anyone else.

might as well cash in and buy a sweet fixie. cuz it's important to be cool and own the right things. you dont want to be a loser.

this

why do people here pry into things that are none of their business? Nothing wrong w/ saving up allowance. Nothing wrong w/ wanting a "fixie."

I would go w/ a Kilo. I know you don't want to buy online, but it is really the best deal for your money. Go to a bike shop, have them fit you for a bike, and then buy the corresponding size from bikesdirect. If you are 5'4" I would go w/ a 52cm bike. Good luck.

Don't buy on CL. People will rip you off when they realize that you don't know what you're doing. Especially in the fg world.

Also, since you already have a road bike you should just concentrate on riding that for now. Riding is riding. Riding a FG is different, but if you like to ride bikes then you will like to ride your road bike.

Cause the children, they're our future. We gotta prepare them for the big bad world out there. It takes a village.....:rolleyes:

well if it takes a village then hey kid don't be a dumb ass
always wear a helmet use a front brake and pay attention use lights after dark

I have known 15 people who have died in the last 5 yrs because they didn't wear a helmet or use a brake or got complacent on the road

Yeah, that's what I meant. Guess I wasn't clear enough. A BD bike is probably his best option no matter when he decides to get it, I'm just saying he should wait until he knows whether cycling is something he'll really be into rather than throwing $300 after a fad he won't care about in 6 months. It sounds like he's got a fine road bike he can be riding right now.


To Kawasaki: Wait until Christmas man.

A) You'll get $200 more bike (because your parents said they would help you out with the rest of it).
B) You'll have a better idea of whether bikes is something you're really into (from riding your road bike). If you buy a KiloTT now and in a couple months decide you don't like riding that much, you'll have wasted $300.
C) You'll know more about bikes, so you won't come off so much as a "I just got my sweet fixie even though I don't know the first thing about bikes."

It's win-win-win. RIDE YOUR ROAD BIKE.

+1 and thanks for the clarification

Even though I agree with you sometimes fads aren't such a bad thing. I first started skateboarding when I was 12, and at that point in time the skateboarding fad was in full swing. But I still got 5 years of riding out of it, and it was super fun while it lasted.

Like I said though I do agree with you because
1. Biking is more expensive.
2. Much more complex sport in terms of what you could choose to do with it. (Still would rather buy a BMX bike for tricks...)

BMX :thumb:

wait til christmas and save up until then.

in the mean time, lurk the **** out of ssfg and mechanics subforums. I mean that as in read everything pertaining to maintenance and parts. find out what's good and what's not. find out how to maintain what's good to keep it good.

depending on how confident you feel by christmas, get your bike from the internet or from craigslist. if going used on craigslist, use your insane gained knowledge to make sure all the bearings are in good order, the chain and drivetrain aren't worn out, the wheels are true and tensioned etc. Also being learned will help you avoid getting ripped off.

if buying off the internet, you will know how to fix whatever breaks.

no matter the scheme, set aside about a benjamin for tools. stuff like allen wrenches and open end wrenches or ratchets you can pick up from harbor freight to save, but you'll need some bike specific tools. off the top of my head i can think of bottom bracket tool, chainring bolt wrench, lockring pliers (if you don't feel comfortable modifying a pair of slipjoints with a dremel), and a floor pump.

advantages of buying from a bike store would be that they can help pick your size and do maintenance for you. you will now do your own maintenance so you're okay there. for sizing, see if you can borrow any friends' bikes. adjust the seat for your height (heel sits on pedal when leg is fully straight so there's a slight bend in the knee when pedaling with the balls of your feet [proper foot placement]). if it doesn't go low enough, you'll need smaller. size is measured by the length of the seat tube. I'd guess for your height of 5'4" a 52-53 would be good. I'm about 5'8" and 55 works nicely for me (though i'm building up a 53.5...)

that's all i can think about right now

I'm going to throw a flag here. Having fun with a question is all well and good but when you tell a 14 year old to start selling weed, addict his friends, on and on you're just plain wrong. Not funny, not cute - plain old wrong.

kawasaki4life,

You sound like a sharp kid with a lot on the ball. Not every 14 year old is sharp enough to stare into the future, save his money a purchase something he wants. I say buy new because you are guaranteed to at least get a safe bike. A helmet, front brake, front and rear lights should be easy as pie to get as Christmas presents - and I mean the good stuff. Go shopping at you local bike store and tell your mom, dad, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. what you want. Choose a real nice helmet.

Not everyone on the internet is actually older than you and as you've already seen on this thread not everyone is as mature as you. Keep your smarts about you. Sometimes, especially when you are 14 being dumb can seem cool and being smart (like you) seems boring or uncool. Please just believe me when I tell you that staying smart and mature (again, like you are) is exactly what you want to do.