Not a total newbie- spent a few miles offroad on a Trek 4300, was 75% trashed when I got it, worse off now, haha. Lots of broken pieces....badly bent wheels, needs new tubes and tires, needs all new cables, all services performed, the front derailler is BROKE, the rear needs adjusted, the chain is shot, and I had a blast up until it became unrideable.

Anyway when it was rideable, I seemed to be spending a lot of time on the road....one thing led to another, I am shopping for single speed road bikes. I will be honest, I HATE working on things. I do it out of necessity- I ride a motorcycle, and I keep on top of my maintenance precisely how I should. But I bought the lowest maintenance bike I could- I just want to ride. I have to desire to know anymore than I do now- which was a couple years wrenching on my flatland BMX bike.

That being said- screw deraillers, screw gears, gimme two sprockets and a chain.

I am actively working on a promotion that appears to be lined up for the end of summer; for now I am on a budget.

I want both brakes, and a flipflop hub. I have noticed everyone points to the Kilo TT- its a little more that I have to spend, only fixed gear, does not have both brakes.

The few others I have looked at are the Critical Cycles bike; but this appears to be more for a commuter and leisure rider, and I am hoping to rack up some miles. At $200 bucks, it is still in the running.

The next is the BigShot brand bikes- they have a few select models on sale for $299. Very stylish, functional, both brakes, flip flop hub...good reviews as well.

Also came across the Giordano Rapido SS, which seems to review well compared to other cheaper bikes. Again, brakes, flip flop hub, good reviews.

I *could* spend more, but I would like to stay under or around the $300 mark. I am looking for something to ride, get in shape, and just go adventuring on, on the pavement. Ill get my single speed MTB set up later....

I have a terrible habit of long posts, so Ill cut it off now. Just looking for advice on a few bikes! Thanks!

have you noticed that some of the other bikes on bikesdirect say "free brakes/levers"

if you look in the descriptions of most of the windsor bikes, it says in the components list F+R = front and rear.

But if you're dead set on one of the three you listed, sorry...i can't recommend any of them.

+1

If price is a holdup, find something that fits you here. Then you'll be getting a frame that you still like after you switch out some of the parts for better ones in a year.

Understood....the reviews seemed fine. I suppose they were from people who just dont know any better; we get a lot of that in the motorcycle world as well.

I will look into the Windsor bikes...some seemingly nice ones in the $300-$330 range