I'm looking to buy a new bike (switching to fixed/single speed), something high quality that I can ride for now and improve on as I get the money to. I love the bike shop down the road from me, but they really only specialize in SE bikes. I was looking over the specs of the SE premium ale, SE lager, SE draft and SE draft lite. i'm not looking to spend a fortune on a crappy bike, so I was wondering if going with the SE brand is the way to go. I'm kinda turned off to the SE Draft and Draft Lite because of their HI-Ten Frame, but ideally something around that price would be perfect. Then again, I really like the SE premium ale and the SE lager isn't too bad. Does anyone have any experience with these bikes? Would a different brand/model be a better investment?

Buy some condoms and have sex with a cow then the right decision will come to you. But in all seriousness, everyone has their own opinions on bikes and no one here is going to be able to tell you what bike to buy that decision needs to be yours otherwise you may end up hating SSFG bikes. See if you can test ride those bikes for a little bit. The most important thing for a SSFG is that the bike fits you perfectly otherwise its a *****. That's why I went with a conversion bc the geo fit me perfectly and I don't plan on racing it at a velodrome. Anyways search around on the internet and get your feet wet finding out what you want out of the bike i.e. Fit, Style, Cog Ratios, etc. If you make an informed decision off your own research you will love the bike a thousand times more than you would if someone off the internet told you they liked a bike so you bought it. That's my 2 cents probably not what you wanted to hear, but hey sometimes that's the best advice.

i would avoid SE and check out bikesdirect.com, specifically the Kilos.

many newbs come by here and ask the same question over and over again, and more often than not people respond with "Kilo"....apparently you get a good amount of bike for the price.

i would also suggest checking out the IRO mark V.
https://www.irocycle.com/markvbuild-a...heelset-2.aspx

i would suggest it over the kilo, but then again its mostly personal preference.