looking for a road bike.

[herm0016]

I already have a nice Mt. bike and want to get a road bike for around town. I am looking at used or maybe a new import like http://www.bigshotbikes.com/
or something from http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm. single speed is fine.

I am looking to spend around a max of $500.

I also would consider buying a used frame/partially put together and fix it up a bit.

any advice?

my lady friend has a bike from big shot and it seems like it is of decent quality, but you do get what you pay for.

 

[herm0016]

bump?

 

[JulesMaximus]

You live in Boulder, CO and you want a fixed gear bike?

I'd start with your local bike shops personally. They will be very knowledgeable and be able to help you get a bike that fits you which is way more important than getting a killer deal.

 

[_Rick_]

At $500 you're really limited. Look around bike forums for used stuff. Probably wouldn't buy new. Also, what's a "road bike" for you?
My mental image is a quite stiff racer, that comes in under 16 pounds. Which is a horrible thing around town - it's how I commute.

In the end, it depends on what you want to do with it. A ten year old aluminium frameset, some cheap wheels, a used handlebar, a saddle someone didn't like off ebay, and some <3 year old 105 gruppo, and you sohuld be good to go, and maybe even fall into your budget. Takes a lot of patience, and building a bike isn't easy. Requires a bunch of special equipment, some of which is component specific and may not work with your MTB or your GF's gear.

Friend of mine just got into the business of building bikes from used components, as well as doing repairs, so I'm getting a bit of his experience in the by-wash. Ebaying for components is absolute hell. A very unstable market, and some specific stuff only rarely appears.

Oh and make sure you have your measurements ready, if you ever want to go more than 5 miles in one go.

Single speed in town is rubbish (and the prices are horribly inflated - you can probably get a 2x10 for the same price as something without a mech)


Considering that you can get a decent roadbike from $1000 euro, your best bet is to troll for upgraders, that want to get rid of their <5 year old bike to get a new Full-CF one. If it's in good nick, you can pay the 500. Otherwise you'll need to factor in components. Even a set of decent tires sets you back 80 bucks or so, so you've got to be careful what you let a seller get away with. Ideally buy locally via a bike forum, after a quick test ride to check fit and ride.

 

[Barfo]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2328703

 

[FleshLight]

For $500, used is the only option. Please don't buy a bigshotbike.

 

[Meghan54]

Takes a lot of patience, and building a bike isn't easy. Requires a bunch of special equipment, some of which is component specific and may not work with your MTB or your GF's gear.

Actually, building a bike from a bare frame takes very few bike specific tools to build up and it's fairly easy.

Sure, you may need a specific bottom bracket tool to mount it....but your LBS can do it for you for a few $$ and save you from having to buy the Shimano or whatever tool you need to mount it. (Typically, there are two types of bottom bracket one encounters these days---screw in and press in.)

The rest of the bike can be built up with hex keys/wrenches, outside sizing the chain for which you'll need a chain breaker---$10-$15 or so for a decent one, and you'll need that tool, the chain breaker, more than almost any other tool you'll use, outside the hex wrenches/keys.

Oh, and you may need a cassette socket, but again, just get your LBS to mount the cassette on your wheel.....just a few $$ again.

Now you're down to needing the other specific bike tools.....tire irons to get the tire off the wheels so you can change flat tubes. Another $5 for a set of 3 plastic ones.

Not much else comes to mind. Sure, you can go all out buying Park tools for every specific bit of work, but many of the Park tools are easily replicated cheaply, such as a headset/bb bearing press. You can buy the Park tool for expensive or build up one for under $20. Pedal wrench, you say? A good longish handled adjustable wrench fills in quite well for a pedal wrench and is cheaper and more versatile.


Speaking of tires, you can find good quality roadie tires for commuting/pleasure riding for under $30/ea quite easily.

And quit trying to do the fixie crap. You'll end up in the wrong gear 95% of the time unless you live on a billiard table or somewhere just as flat.

 

[herm0016]

single speed would be fine, fixies are stupid.

i already have a chain tool, a park multi tool and tire levers.

anywho... i bought a what appears to be late 60s Japanese road bike that has all the original components and is in pretty excellent shape. ill take some pics next week. for 75 bucks. woo, another project!

 

[_Rick_]

anywho... i bought a what appears to be late 60s Japanese road bike that has all the original components and is in pretty excellent shape. ill take some pics next week. for 75 bucks. woo, another project!

Pray that you'll never have to swap the BB

 

[mistercrabby]

Look into a used Cannondale.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Look into a used Cannondale.

He bought a single speed bike from the 60's. lol

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Btw I was going to recommend a dual sport trek. The cheapest model retails for like $530. Upright riding position with decent drivetrain. I plan on getting one as I sold my road bike and only have a mountain bike but I find myself riding gravel or paved trails 99% of the time. The dual sport will handle what I need much better than the heavy ass mountain bike I'm on now.

 

[Ksyder]

$500 will get you a nice road bike at Bikesdirect. I just paid 369 shipped for one a couple weeks ago. Showed up 4 days later and its pretty damn nice for the price.

 

[herm0016]

He bought a single speed bike from the 60's. lol

ah... no. it's a 10 speed.

and what the heck. it was super cheap. I could sell it for twice that much to some hipster down here in boulder after i clean it up and adjust the cables.