[Pcemkr]

I currently metro to work daily. It's 3 stops, $2.15 each way. Simple commute, but I want to pick up a road bike to ride to work in Spring/Summer/Fall. It's ~2.5mi ride one way.

Budget: $3-400?
I want to pick up something with decent components and lightweight. I'm def willing to scope out Craigslist for something used. I've only had a Giant Rincon hard tail mountain bike and know nothing about road bikes, nor ever ridden one.

What should I look for? Brands/models, components, etc.

[immiketoo]

Get a fixie!

[Buegie]

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Get a fixie!

that would probably be a good option...entry level road bikes start around $900

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Get a fixie!

Usually I am not a fixie guy, but in this case probably a good choice as long as you don't have big hills in your commute.

You could even put road biased tire on your hard tail, its only 2 1/2 miles.

[Pcemkr]

There is next to no elevation change.
I ditched my mountain bike, so I no longer have it.
I'll probably up my budget to $5-600 if it helps. I know a decent Craigslist road bike can be had for under that.

[Red Bread]

I use an older Schwinn Madison single speed for a similar commute. I've got 28c tires on it, so it can do minor curbs and such. Perfect solution.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I use an older Schwinn Madison single speed for a similar commute. I've got 28c tires on it, so it can do minor curbs and such. Perfect solution.

[Red Bread]

It's a shame the current Madison looks ridiculous, with a flat bar and a dime store fork. I'm sure someone must make a good, cheap single speed/fixie. The Specialized Langster still looks reasonable, for $720. I got my Madison for $325 when Performance was having a sale, it's as much or more fun than my other bikes, none of which cost less than about fifteen times what I paid for the Schwinn.

[immiketoo]

Go old school like I did> Way cheaper and cool too!

[Pcemkr]

That's all I'm really looking for ^

[Buegie]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

That's all I'm really looking for ^

that's a single speed, it sounds like what you're looking for. A traditional road bike would have drop bars and more gears than you would actually use.

There are a lot of companies that make single speeds so you should have a pretty good selection. This is a friend of a friend's company, if my campus was more spread out I would have picked one up:

http://straycatbicycles.com/

[Pcemkr]

Pretty cool, thanks for the link!

[ejheverest]

For a commuter bike that might get stolen or vandalized, go single speed/fix gear. Buy used on craigslist and the less decals you have on your bike the less of a chance that someone will steal it.

[Feyd]

There are a ton of companies that build custom steel frame fixies for $399 and up..

Here are just a few...

http://www.republicbike.com/
http://www.red2fixedgear.com/
http://store.citygrounds.com/store/c...d-Singlespeed/

[r0wr]

http://bikesdirect.com/

bought my fixie from here. cheapest, most reliable bikes for the price

[txz4]

craigslist. Best bang for your buck.

[iBoost]

Bikesdirect.com they're all really good beginner bikes and decently priced! I got a single speed from there a while ago.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by r0wr

http://bikesdirect.com/

bought my fixie from here. cheapest, most reliable bikes for the price

[Pcemkr]

Is a fixie ok for urban/suburban commute? I don't know how I feel about not having handle brakes...

Wait nm, I see a lot of them with brakes.

Thoughts on this?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

Is a fixie ok for urban/suburban commute? I don't know how I feel about not having handle brakes...

Wait nm, I see a lot of them with brakes.

Thoughts on this?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

I wouldn't get a true fixie for commute, I would want brakes and freewheel hub or a flip flop so you can try both.

[Pcemkr]

Thoughts on this one? http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

It's low stock, and I might just pull the trigger.

Or this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...r/timeline.htm


Final candidate (24-speed): http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington3_IX.htm