If it's missing cables and a seat, then it's probably a failed conversion attempt. And it failed for a reason. Now you are going to PAY him to take his problem off his hands. Not smart.

Can you tell us why you are opposed to buying a NEW fixed gear bike for $300? That is really the very best guaranteed option. There are a LOT of crap bikes being sold out there. If you don't know what you want and especially what you don't want, you will likely wind up buying something bad or not worth what you'll pay to get it up and running.

Man, I've owned over 40 or 50 bikes. I've bought them new, used, and built them from scratch. You came here asking for advice. We are giving it to you and you are not listening.

It's an ongoing trend as of late.

I apologize for making it seem like I'm not heeding your advice. But I'm a college student. I'm in debt by thousands atm. And it's only my first year. I have no money to spend on high end stuff. Now it seems as if you have the resources to to be able to spend $300 just like that. The reason I'd prefer a conversion is obviously because it's mostly complete. Where as a new bike will run me more. I can get a used bike for 50-100 and change a few parts relatively cheap. Maybe it won't be top of the line like a bianchi pista with all these awesome parts but if it's servicable then it's okay I guess. Believe me I'd love to go out and buy a brand new bike for 500+ Now it is advice and that's exactly what it is advice. Not instructions or rules to follow. I came here to ask what your thoughts were and you expressed yours as being to buy a new bike. I thought about it and decided it's not for me. Now I know in the long run I'll end up spending more but by then I figure I'll have more money. I hope you understand my position.

A conversion - even one with crappy parts - will typically cost more than a low-buck complete bike. Nobody is talking about "high-end" anything. $300 won't get you a "high-end" bike - but it will get you one that is rideable right away. Also, tools cost money and must be factored into your budget if you plan on doing any of the work yourself. If not, shop labor isn't free here on Earth.

Wasn't there another recent thread just like this?

Probably was. As we all know new forum members are lazy and therefore we don't bother searching. I have tools from my father, and being the lazy ass that I am I'll end up just swapping the rear or even just buying a hub and cog and respoking it myself to the same wheel I forget the word for the outer wheel part. I didn't say 300 would get me a high end bike and like you said its exactly that rideable right away. Same thing if I spend 50 on a complete and 50 on a hub and cog. Then just scrap everything I don't need.

I appreciate your sarcasm.

I was being serious. Be sure to report back and let us know how it went.

Somehow the girly colors and little angel or fairy thing got me. Will do then.

It seems that way because that's exactly what you are doing.

For a college student (or anyone on a budget) a bicycle is an investment. It provides basic transportation to school, work, etc... It is a luxury to some an appliance to others. Invest.

If you can buy a used bike for $50-100 then ride that! Why do you think you need a fixed gear?!! A road bike us much, much more useful than a fixed gear.

You are being hard headed. You want us to say, "Yeah, man!! You should do a conversion!! It will only cost like $20-30 tops." So...




Yeah, man!! You should do a conversion!! It will only cost like $20-30 tops. My cousin Rico did one once. It was sweet. But his old lady got mad at him and rand over it with her car. Man, she was one pissed off heina.

I know Rico. hard headed as sh*t.

I already have a road bike. Lol. I said earlier its a specialized sirrus. Idk what year. I got it for free. Yeah. I guess I am hard headed.

You're screwed.

"TL;DR: I gotsta get street credz."

ride your bike.

I looked on the cl link for less than a minute and I already found a complete for 200 in the same area.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/2865981549.html
cmon son.

Bikesdirect ain't exactly "name brand".

um... what? How are motobecane, mercier, etc, not name brand?

sure they aren't cervelo, colnago, specialized, whatever.... but they aren't an 80's walmart bike decked out with origin8 garbage...

somehow i read this and got confused.

Bikesdirect does not sell Motobecane or Mercier. They sell mail order biks with Motobecane and Mercier stickers on them

Bikesdirect just bought the rights to the names of those brands for pennies on the dollar when those companies were going out of business so they could slap Motobecane stickers on their mass produced mail order bikes.

I'm not saying they are bad bikes, just that they aren't real brands anymore.

proof or idgaf.

It's fairly common knowledge, dude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motob%C3%A9cane

Also, the fact that their official brand websites all look like something straight outta mid 90's geocities would be another hint...

http://www.cyclesmercier.com/
http://www.windsorbicycles.com

neat...

still better than what this guy has in mind, which is the point of what i said.... but whatever...

Truth, regardless of Ultraheehaw's "argument".

I am not sure if the fact that you cannot identify the parts of a bike is a sign of impending doom, but I suggest a suicide hub. You will get the most bang for your buck and that, combined with a brakeless setup will get you mad trckastradom. Also, as everybody here knows, you must find the local group and only offer to draft third in the lineup singing Alanis Morrisette. Mix that with a healthy dose of glancing back menacingly at the goon on your wheel, intermittently screaming "helmets wreck my Beeber pomp yo! Now stop interrupting my podcast!

Then comb your bangs forward again with a flick of your hand, and profit.