Newbie looking for help
Thread started by
J-Rock at 05.7.09 - 8:48 pm
Hello All,
I'm looking to buy a bicycle, and I was wondering if I could get some suggestions of good bicycle shops in L.A., San Gabriel Valley, or close to either of the areas I just mentioned. I'm a beginner, so I'm looking to get a good solid road or fixed bicycle for a cheap price. As I learn more. I'll start adding parts to it later. If anyone have any suggestions of which brand of bicycle I should get, let me know. I'm leaning towards a nishiki, bianchi, or peugeot.
Thanks in advance,
J-Rock
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whats ur budget?
if u go craigslist, u should avoid the SGV guy. his bikes look okay but theyre put together with cheap parts and the price is jacked up
KiMS105.7.09 - 8:56 pm
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Um..... You wouldn't happen to be related to
Erock or
Mrock, would you?
SPOOK05.7.09 - 8:58 pm
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Noob on a fixie? Tell me I'm wrong, but this sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Please don't tell me you plan to go brakeless too?
User105.7.09 - 9:13 pm
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i wouldnt recommend getting a fixie till you know how to ride it. or at least get some brakes.. if not.. then.. you'll be what ^ that guy said.. just waiting to get hit..
tekmo05.7.09 - 9:43 pm
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SGV guy isn't all bad. I admit that his quality control is nonexistent but sometimes the dude has some pretty good bikes for good prices. I've got a couple of friends riding pretty sweet roadies from him that have held up just fine.
However, if you're a noob looking to get your first bike, you should visit a shop and talk to someone who can help you make the right decision. People on Craigslist just aren't going to provide you with that kind of assistance.
I recommend going to a smaller shop that doesn't specialize in racing hardware (Helen's or Cynergy are pretty sport-tuned shops). Try Bike Attack or Palms Cycles. Otherwise go to a place like Bikerowave or Bicycle Kitchen to get assistance from a knowledgeable volunteer and build yourself something that suits your needs.
Undercover Bob05.7.09 - 9:49 pm
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My budget is under 300 and if it's under 200, even better.
J-Rock05.7.09 - 10:19 pm
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Not related to Erock or Mrock, just a nickname that stucked.
J-Rock05.7.09 - 10:21 pm
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Is it really that hard to ride a fixie compared with a road bike? I done some research with fixies and I know they have the rear back break - we all rode a bmx bike when we were little. BTW, since it's so hard to break with the back break, doesn't it wear out the tires quickly?
J-Rock05.7.09 - 10:26 pm
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I saw SGV guy on craigslist. I was considering him, but I just wanted to confirm with you guys. I'll give him a call and see what he has.
Thanks for all the help.
J-Rock05.7.09 - 10:28 pm
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"Is it really that hard to ride a fixie compared with a road bike? I done some research with fixies and I know they have the rear back break - we all rode a bmx bike when we were little. BTW, since it's so hard to break with the back break, doesn't it wear out the tires quickly?"
Reading this really makes me want to cry. Dude, PLEASE wear a helmet and read
this. Fixes don't have a back break in the sense that I think you mean. It is possible to use your legs to slow you down, to a stop, but this is by no means a brake. For the new rider, I would strongly recommend for you to get a flip/flip hub (that is, free wheel cog on one side and a fixed cog on the other) and ride single speed (with front and rear brakes) for a while. Once comfortable with the ride and feel of your bike, only then should you try riding fixed. IMHO.
Love, Spook.
PS, read
this thread about bike security, too. There has been a rash of bike thefts lately.
SPOOK05.7.09 - 11:02 pm
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@ j- rock, you should try our bike shop in the san gabriel valley, its called R-B bicycle shop. our ride/riders get discounts from the shop & will most likey be the best deal you can get besides bikesdirect.com heres the number to call here is a really good shop that we go to!
R-B bicycle shop 9533 garvey ave. s. El Monte, ca 91733 Tel. (626) 442-0682
and by the way, welcome to the bicycle family!
themidnightsocial!05.8.09 - 4:01 am
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hey, i still consider myself a n00b and i started off on fixed... it IS really different though. BEWARE.
northernsoulbyrd05.8.09 - 6:55 am
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what is this fixed gear you are all talking about??? can i buy it at target?
theshues05.8.09 - 11:21 am
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@northernsoul
your a tought girl thats why~your the only girl with them dangling balls, that we guys got.
tekmo05.8.09 - 11:29 am
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J-rock
bikesdirect.com has a few $300 fixies brand new, and they're pretty solid quality, especially considering the cost.
Used, craigslist or L.A. Bicycles on Hoover near USC would probably be a good bet.
JB05.8.09 - 1:47 pm
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if ur looking for something between 200-300 dollar range, also check out atomic bikes (cycles?) in the valley,
paul has an assortment of rebuilt used bikes thats right in ur price range.
also, before u immediately get a fixed gear bike, go test one out and see if you like it or not.
if you dont have a friend with one, go to a bike shop that sells them and ask to test ride one.
KiMS105.8.09 - 1:48 pm
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@JB and Jrock
a lot of people that i've talked to riding the bikesdirect fixed gears (mercier kilo TT and the motobecane) say that they are of shoddy quality.
namely the wheel set/hub, bottom bracket and crankset.
on TNS, there are about 4 or 5 people with the mercier, motobecane, and windsor bikes and they ALL had to get new back wheels if i remember correctly.
the thread on the rear hub stripped out within a week.
and just the other night, leo was complaining about his bottom bracket grinding in the frame.
oh and vinh (666 on the forum), his pedal stripped awhile back too.
i mean, if ur gonna spend 350 then buy another wheelset, cranks, and BB, idk if its worth it.
KiMS105.8.09 - 1:52 pm
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299 w/ Free shipping for Windsor is not bad at all IMO, aside from stripping the hub which was my fault I havn't had any major trouble. I think its a good starter and just replace bb and the wheels later on to something that you like.
mattspeed05.8.09 - 1:56 pm
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Dude, go to Athena Cycles in Studio City. Howard will hook you up with a sweet Masi. Masis are cheap, nice, and fast. And Howard is cool.
illy05.8.09 - 2:23 pm
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@matt
is that why you got the new wheelset?
KiMS105.8.09 - 2:26 pm
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I don't think I'd ever buy a BikesDirect bike. Your gonna end up spending a lot of money upgrading all the crap stock parts on it, your better off going to a LBS in which I recommend Athena's Cycles.
Save your pennies and get something of quality that fits you.
Graham05.8.09 - 3:12 pm
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Thank you all for your advice and suggestion. I'll probably check them all out.
J-Rock05.8.09 - 6:50 pm
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"@JB and Jrock - a lot of people that i've talked to riding the bikesdirect fixed gears (mercier kilo TT and the motobecane) say that they are of shoddy quality."
I own a Motobecame Messenger, and it's worked fine for me.
You can check the forums for reviews of their bikes. The bikes they sell are more or less the same as a significant portion of the $500-600 bikes from the LBS. Buying local is awesome and all, but I'm not going to pay $150-250 for similar product.
Look at it this way, a bd.com bike costs$300-350. Even if you add a new rear wheel ($100-150), a bottom bracket ($25), AND a crankset ($60), you'd still only be at the price of your standard low-end LBS fixie, and chances are, if you maintain and tighten things properly, you won't need any of that.
JB05.9.09 - 9:59 am
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@JB, Thanks for your advice. I actually came to the same conclusion as you suggested. I'm stuck btwn getting a used bicycle or new semi-decent bicycle. When I compare the cost of a used bikes plus potential upgraded parts, the price comes close or near a pretty decent new bicycle.
@Everyone, What do you guys think about the following used bicycles, and what would you pay for them?
'08 Gary Fisher Triton
'06 Fuji Track Pro
Bianchi Pista
I'm leaning toward the Gary Fisher Triton, but I prefer the '09 with the drop bar and I think a pretty good crack set. The second consideration is the Fuji Track Pro - it's a nice looking bike plus it has the drop bar that I'm looking for. Lastly, the Pista, popular among several riders, but the price is somewhat high for a pretty old bicycle.
Noobs, sometime, ask stupid question, but we all started as one, right?
J-Rock05.10.09 - 12:49 am
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I'd also suggest the R.B. bike shop that midnightsocial suggested. I'm currently under works of putting together another bike from that place and I know for sure that I'm going to get a good deal and chances are that you will too.
Stomachache05.10.09 - 1:10 am
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'08 Gary Fisher Triton
'06 Fuji Track Pro
Bianchi Pista
It depends on what you want.in your next bike
The Bianchi Pista - this is a traditional chromoly steel framed track bike. There are a lot of them around, but they really are pretty. Bianchi's been building bikes since 1893, and even though it's got a generic Taiwanese frame, it sure looks nice. If you want the standard fixie, this is a good one. (You may also want to check out the Mercier KiloTT if you want standard steel fixie - http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm)
The Fuji Track Pro is a pretty solid modern track bike with an aluminum frame and a carbon fork. It retails a lot higher than the Pista, and if you want something light, this'd be a good bet. If you like the traditional "steel is real" thing then this wouldn't be the one. (The regular non-pro Fuji Track is the same frame as the Windsor Hour / Motobecane Messenger.) The Fuji Track Pro retails for well over $1k new,so if you've found it cheap,you may want to grab it.
The Triton looks ok, but if you're planning to take the brakes off (NOT RECOMMENDED), you may want to steer clear, as unlike the Fuji or the Pista, it's got brazeons for the rear brake cables.
Take test rides if possible, that will tell you more about what you're looking for than anything else.
JB05.10.09 - 1:22 am
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get something that coasts!!
ESPECIALLY if you are a beginner!
fixed gears belong on tracks!
onelessfixie05.10.09 - 1:25 am
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