Two more days and I'm getting a fixie. Any recommendations?
 

My dad has promised me a new bike for my b-day (I sold my last fixie to eat and my road bike just died on me - the frame broke.)

I'm guessing that he won't want to spend more than five or six-hundred dollars, and perhaps as little a four hundred...who knows (I guess I'll find out.)


So I need to solicit some recommendations for bikes from four to six hundred. What would you get?

for you? A Thruster.

killo

Well, it's not quite in the $500 to $600 range, but I really like my Kilo TT. I know about a million other people on this site will say the same thing, but maybe your dad will give you the extra cash to get some upgrade parts (pedals, tires, bars, etc.).

tell your dad to get you a kilo tt and then get a job or work on something with a future to show him you're worth a 600 dollar bike.

hell, maybe if you really impress him with how much of a good kid you are, or if you show him what a good man you'll grow up to be, he'll want to buy you a nicer bike.

honestly 600 is a tough cap because you can't get much better with 600 than you can get for 300 with the kilo. a kilo WT is another great option in your price range.

Raleigh Rush Hour. Find closeouts on older years,

I love mine, and the geo is trackish road in my opinion. And they look cool. And the parts are decent.

Are those steel or aluminum?

steel 4130

Reynolds 520 actually, but same thing. Decent, light, and I like the company. No brainer for me.

i like the company too. they do amazing things for the bike scene here and around the world.

Raleigh does? Cool.

Sounds to me like you should get a $500 road frame.

Mr. Hobbes the Hobbesian. I suggest you move to Norway.

http://store.citygrounds.com/store/p...e-Roll-1-Grey/ This is a decent option for $400. EDIT* I saw the only size left is xl the new 2012 model is going for $660 idk if I would pay that but maybe you would be interested. http://store.citygrounds.com/store/p...ed-Track-Bike/

So am I following that your dad is going to buy you a bike for your birthday, but you're not specific about how much he's going to pony up for the purchase? How, exactly, is this going to go down? Is he taking you down to the LBS and you two will work it out with a sales person? Is he going to get with you and you give him a price - he goes to a website and punches in the CVC and expiration date (we know you got the CC No. already memorized)?

If the last option is the game plan, why not show him a series of $1200 bikes, knowing they're above the price he's going to spend, and then counter by showing him a "pathetic" $800 bike and seal the con with a "I'd settle for this" after he tells you to piss off on the $1200 bike. The oversell always works, just make sure you're showing him something that, lord forbid, he jumps and says "fine, you want a $1200 bike - let's buy it," you actually want.

tl;dr

bait him with a $1200 bike that you've hand picked for safety
Hook him with a $800 bike you know he'll see as a steal.

p.s. look for outdated models - 2009-2010 - which shops are working their asses off to get off their inventory lists.