Greetings Earthlings! I am deeply sorry for yet another newb thread looking for advice on what bike to buy....although, not deeply enough to refrain from posting.

I have been wanting to get a single speed or fixed gear bike for a couple years but just haven't gotten to it. I am serious now about getting one. I have no real experience on road bikes. I road a bmx around when I lived in LA like 8 years ago. I am in Florida now and am looking to get a bike to commute and get exercise. I am set on single speed. I went into the LBS a few days ago and there was a used grey/orange Trek District belt drive. I took it for a spin and loved it! They wanted $800 which is out of my range so I have been looking around for less pricey bikes online. I'm looking to spend $300 or less.

I have found some info in forums, blogs, and reviews and so on. I have seen a lot of responses to peoples inquiries about inexpensive bikes that are along the lines of "you could do a lot better for the price."

So what would be best for $300 or less? I have looked at critical cycles, venice cycles, retrospec, Republic, and Bikes Direct as well as those cheap ones on amazon like the vilano.

I am leaning towards a bike from bikes direct but they seem to be out of a lot models in 58cm. I am 6'1.5" 200 lbs 33" inseam. I have a long torso.

I very much appreciate you taking the time to read this and respond.

Aloha

Bikes Direct or used. You must be picky about colors, cuz they do have some models around $300 in a 58.

Under 300?

Windsor The Hour (or its variants)
Motobecane Track
Windsor Clockwork (or its variants)

BikesDirect, LBS, fit calc, search function, etc.

Thanks guys. I'll take a look at those ones. What kind of difference is there between the hour and clockwork? A lot of the specs mean little to me as i dont know what to look for.

Clockwork IIRC has slightly more "road" geo than the others.

I bought the Motobecane Track, and it's more than adequate for a first SSFG. If I were to go back though, I'd get a Kilo. It just depends on your standards based on bikes you've owned/ridden before. The Windsors and steel Motobecanes within the same price range are all similar in terms of quality, so just pick based on the brake setup, geo, and look you like.

My 2 cents:

I don't like the Kilo TT because all of the awkward sizing of everything.

Is it the Windsor bikes that people say are a little bigger than the others? So maybe I could do a 56cm?

It's the Kilo.

Ah ha, thanks!

Use a fitment calculator and look at the top tube.

+ever-how-many for Bikes Direct

I've become quite the ebay scour-er lately. You can find ridiculous deals on there. A buddy of mine found a 58cm Trek T1 complete, built with DA7600 laced to DT Swiss rims for about $500. If you are on the extremes of sizing (high/low, small/large), you're likely to find some really good deals on there.

If you can, do that fit calculator or get fitted at a bike shop and start hunting.

I filled out the fit calculator and have been looking around at the different geometries. I have had trouble finding any that match my fit on everything. If I go with the right size seat tube the top tube is too short and if i go with a close top tube the seat tube is long. Should I mainly be looking at the top tube length and not worry so much about the seat tube or standover height? For the eddy fit I got seat tube c-c 55.5-56 and c-t 57.2-57.7 and the ideal top tube would be 58.9-59.3. I just want to make sure i don't get a bike that is way too big.

thanks for your help and patience answering my lame questions!!!!!!!

See post #12.

AHHH! I read it and wept bitterly! Thanks for answering my questions before I even think of them. I guess you've been through it enough to know what's next. So if i jump on a 60cm or 61cm bike my toes may not touch the ground and i may crack an egg or two but that's the price i will pay>

Be able to track stand from the start. Problem solved, son.

You could always get a longer stem if you're worried about stand over height.

Do any of you scholarly gentlemen have any experience with the se premium brew? BD has 61cm which has a top tube of 595mm which according to the calc is perfect for me. Downside is It's a bit tall for me and my 33" inseam. I wouldn't want to have to shove the seat all the way down in there. They have a 56cm but that would be a little small. Too bad 58cm is sold out.

other than that it's either 58cm motobecane track in a color I don't like or the 58cm windsor clockwork plus.

Concerning the clockwork plus/ hour plus is the top tube on these new models sloping? If so could I put a shorter fork on to bring it more horizontal? I do think I like the look of a curved lugged fork over the straight one that comes on the new model.