Help me pick a bike, please
 

Hey all,

I know this has probably been beaten to death, but searching wasn't much help as I suck at teh internetz.

At any rate, I'm looking for an inexpensive commuter to piddle around town on and that I wouldn't think twice about locking up outside after dark, but I don't want something that's complete crap either. I've narrowed it down to a few options: Windsor Hour, Purefix, SE Draft Lite, and possibly the SE Lager. Whatever I get, my preference would be to ride fixed.

To me the Windsor stands out as potentially being the highest quality bike of those listed. However, I would have to assemble it myself (which means buying some tools) or pay to have a bike shop work on it. I feel like the price would snowball a fair bit more than the listing price with the BD option.

I can get the Purefix and SE bikes locally. The SE dealer in particular will go over the bike to make sure the bolts are properly tightened and the wheels are true and what not before it leaves the shop, and I think there's a lot of value in that. Plus, either shop will offer the standard free maintenance for a year with bike purchase.

Given all that, what would you recommend for me? Should I get the Windsor and learn how to work on bikes myself, or are the Purefix and SE acceptably decent enough that I'll be ok with saving some hassle and buying locally?

no

Kilo TT

I thought about the Kilo TT and it's a definite step up from the Hour. At $400 plus whatever it costs to get it assembled it's approaching more than I want to spend on a cheap commuter, though. At that point, I may just want to stalk Craigslist until an older road bike shows up.

I'm definitely aware that what I'm looking for may not exist. I guess a better question is what's wrong with the listed bikes such that I should stay away from them?

i think there needs to be a sticky thread on bikes under $500.

kilo TT

I have a Windsor Clockwork (same frame as an Hour) and I feel like it's nice for the money and rides pretty nice.

Kilo tt

The Hour is the best of the options you presented. Crmo frame, the others are all hi ten steel. Tools needed for assembly would probably cost you all of $10. You need some allen wrenches and wrench. I've never bought a BD bike but I think you just have to attache the front wheel and handelbars and check that everything else is tightened down. You should be able to watch a few videos on youtube and figure it out for yourself. Assemble and ride and take it in for a tune up down the road. If you aren't comfortable, any LBS will do it for you and shouldn't charge more then $50 to set it up so even if you go that route you at about the same price or less then the others for a bike with a better frame.

I would account for another $50 for two different locks if you plan on locking up after dark especially if you leave it over night, unless you live someplace with zero crime

Well if your local bike shop is offering free maintenance for a year, and they check proper spoke tension and torque on all bolts before it leaves the shop, I would go with the SE. Over the year you spend on maintenance fee at other bike shops you will probably have enough for upgrades!

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll have to check in to see what tools are required to assemble a BD bike. I may go that route for a better bike, or at least a more upgradeable platform.

To be honest, the shop offering to check over the whole bike made the SE very tempting and is what prompted the question in the first place. All else equal pretty much anything from BD is probably better then the SE, but once you throw in the service I figured that gap would've closed.

I'm starting to think that cheap bikes are too much trouble. My road bike was a no-brainer in comparison.

My roomate rides the same bike. I can't imagine getting a better deal for the money. This is a great bike! He has eaten **** about five times on it and never hurt anything but the bar tape. Steel is real!

State bikes are ****ing awesome.

My Quella is awesome; and piddling round town is exactly what I do. I would lock it up at night mind!

Only if you rock this crankset on their bikes. Best. Crankset. Ever.

I've put 4,000 miles on that crankset over the last 3 months. It's still going strong.

Bro.