What's going on. I have narrowed my choices down to three entry FGs. I have to order the bike on line because there are only 2 LBSs here (Key West, Fl) and their markups are ridiculous (they want $800 for a Bianchi Via Brera Pista). So my choices are a Kilo tt pro, Kilo wt, or 2011 SE Lager. Which one would you pick? I know will have to upgrade parts on all of them (stem, bars, saddle, peddles) and upgrade the other parts as they wear out. It would be nice to hear opinions from people who actually own the three potential bikes. Thanks for any help. Be gentle this is my first post

get the bianchi

no one's really discussed any of those other bikes here before.

I forget to mention that my budget is around $500.

It's ok. I was being an ass. The kilo is discussed so much and threads are started with questions about the bike so often that it has become a bit of a joke. For the money buy the kilo and forget about the SE. If you plan on upgrading most if not all of the components I'd say save the ~$90 and go with the regular tt or a stripper and not the pro.

There are even two threads devoted to the kilo. One was closed at the end of last year because it was enormous and the other one is almost always on the front page.

Thanks. I kinda noticed the enormous kilo tt archive...enormous. I was leaning towards the the SE to be a rebel I guess. I know that the kilo is a good starter FG but I don't want be a lemming, you know what I mean.

when it comes to making good decisions you won't regret then popular usually isn't a bad route to take. Just saying

get a steamroller complete for just about $75 more. i think speedgoat has 'em on sale

Touché... However, the road of conformity/popularity leads you no where because everyone else is already there...

They don't have em in my size. I'm 6'4 with a 35.5-36 inseam

In that case, I'd suggest this:

we're just talking about making a financial decision. And it's not like the SE is at the end of some non-conformist road less traveled by

Thanks, I like em stacked. The air is much cleaner up there.

That may be the case but I would gladly take the road less traveled, which based off of my research is the SE.

Thanks for the...eh...help
I'm going with the SE. It is an entry FG after all.

Kilo wt!

Why do tall bikes never have brakes? If I were building one I'd use disc brakes :/

Just go to craigslist then. I mean, I'm selling my 62cm IRO Mark V for well under your budget on craigslist right now.

I have checked Craigslist and not a single a fg/ss. I live in Key West, FL and the closest major metropolitan area that gets anything in my size is Miami (3 1/2 hours away)

If you want to follow the herd, get the Kilo TT.
I want something different, so I got the SE Lager ...
Tons of compliments on a special bike and less than $399 on Ebay
https://cgi.ebay.com/TRACK-BIKE-700C-...item20ba8a3fa8

I dont know where you got the idea of that being a mark up, but the MSRP on a Via Brera is $830.

$699 from here: https://store.citygrounds.com/store/p...teel-Complete/

Doesnt make your store have a mark up, just that citygrounds has a deal.

How about this ?

I can understand that. Then there is still ebay which is pretty safe now with their buyer protections.

I've been buying and selling bike stuff for only about a year, but I can tell you that it is almost always better to get durable components second hand (i.e., crankset, frame, wheelset, handlebars, stem, seatpost) and let the seller eat the depreciation. You get much better stuff for your budget that way.

I mean, unless you somehow don't get obsessed with your bike and have a weekly urge to tinker and improve it...

think I'm in love






not.