First road bike

Trek and Specialized do make fine bikes, but so do Giant and Schwinn (not the Schwinns from wal-mart or any other department store though) along with many other brands.

Most likely, any bike that your lbs (local bike shop) carries will be a fine bike. As for steel or aluminum, well that is a matter of which you like better. There is no right answer for that question. For me, I prefer aluminum even though I think steel is a better ride.

Used bikes can be a great deal, but you must also know that just because one model is a 55 cm, doesn't mean another brand's 55 cm will fit you properly (fit is the most important thing). Also, if you don't know how to set it up, you will have to pay someone to set it up.

If I was you, I'd go to a couple of lbs see what they have in your price range and test ride a few. The one that feels the best is the best one to buy.

I also noticed that one of the bikes you linked to was a single speed, which is fine if that is what you want. In your price range, you won't be getting the best components, but that is ok, as long as the bike fulfills your needs.

thanks SweetLou. The only reason I'm looking into a used Trek/Specialized is because I don't want to buy a brand new bike and then risk it getting stolen on campus next year. However, if I do end up getting one of the bikes from the links I provided above, which bicycle do you think is the best deal?? Also, I might pm you if I decide to pursue a bicycle on eBay to get your opinion.

The best deal is the bike that you like the most, the one that makes you want to wake up and ride. I can't make that decision for you. You need to discover this on your own. But just by looking I would go with the Giant. But I couldn't see the Diamonback, somethings just don't work in Linux with IceWeasel.

As with eBay, you might be better off posting here, since I really don't know what the market is for used bikes.

Also, many lbs have models leftover from previous years. You can usually save a good amount of money with one of these.

A bike shop in Ann Arbor has the Giant OCR 3 on sale
http://greatlakescycling.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=1&id=6676 They also have Felts, which I like, http://greatlakescycling.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=1&id=6651 But I haven't ridden that model

I've narrowed down my choices to 3 road bicycles:

giant-bicycle.com11474Open ↗
GIANT
aluminum
24 speed
$613

schwinnbike.combikes detail.phpOpen ↗
SCHWINN
aluminum
24 speed
$525

greatlakescycling.comitemdetails.cfmOpen ↗
SCOTT
aluminum
24 speed
$608

That was quick. I'm in the marker for a new bike and I doubt if I will be ready to buy for at least a month. I hope you find the bike you like. I do recommend buying from an lbs that will allow you to test ride them. Hopefully on your test ride you can find a couple of nice hills to climb. See how they shift from riding on the hoods and from the drops. You want to be confortable.

Sorry to keep posting every few hours, but I'm really eager to get a bike before the summer is over!!

Anyhow, now my choices are back up to 4:

Scott Speedster
I found a stores that sells it for $580

Giant OCR3
on sale for $615

Trek 1000
most expensive at $650

Schwinn Circuit
on eBay (brand new) for $435

so now out of these 4, which bike has the best quality for the best price?? Which one would you buy if you were in my situation

i work summers as a bike tech at [censored] sports...

with that said, dont go by the website. you wont find those schwinns in the store. however, they should have a few diamondback podiums. they are really good for the price. should be $600 or on sale for $529. if you go to [censored] and see them for $600, just tell the salesmen that you were told they were $529 and he should sell it for that price.

for another $50, you can get a 3 yr service plan that gets you unlimted tune-ups and if any part breaks you get it replaced free.

i know i sound like im just trying to sell you to [censored] cause i work there but in reality i could care less. im just telling you from my personal experience and the service plan really is a good deal with a $600 road bike. i dont know why they dont change the price for different bikes cause its the same $50 for a $99 bike.

Giant OCR range is a always a safe bet.

I purchased a specialized allez triple (bottom of the ALLEZ line, still a very good bike) last year for 524, but that was closeout. they are near 700, but the '08s are out, or will be out soon, so look around. Deals at real bike shops should be starting to pop up.

[censored] is OK, but be careful. some places have kids that dont even ride working in the bike dept. and some have guys that really know what they are doing. The diamondback bikes they sell look like good deals, and are right in line with other bigger named bikes.

Trek is good as well, they offer a lifetime frame warranty on their bikes. might even include the fork, i dont remember (i just bought my girlfriend a Trek 7100 WSD). Trek makes darn good bikes, I know people that have early 90's trek mountain bikes still goin strong.

if you can save up 600 you should be able to get a very nice bike, even if you need to find something used 🙂

adpreston1988 said:

Sorry to keep posting every few hours, but I'm really eager to get a bike before the summer is over!!

Anyhow, now my choices are back up to 4:

Scott Speedster
I found a stores that sells it for $580

Giant OCR3
on sale for $615

Trek 1000
most expensive at $650

Schwinn Circuit
on eBay (brand new) for $435

so now out of these 4, which bike has the best quality for the best price?? Which one would you buy if you were in my situation

I just purchased a new road bike, for around 700 aswell. I went with the Jamis Ventura Comp, seeing as it got the best entry level road bike from bicycling, and I really liked the feel and power of the ride.

I liked the Trek, and Felt, but found that NO-ONE on this forum like the Specialized Allez. They said it sucked as an entry level bike.

Oh, and go with a double. With my Ventura Comp, I can't see how you would possibly need 3-gears.

One of my neighbors is a huge cyclist (takes trips where he bikes 80 miles/day for a week or two) and I went over to talk to him today. Turns out he had a bike in his garage he's been wanting to get rid of. It's a Cannondale R600 (6-7 years old) and is willing to sell it to me for $200-300. I'm going to take it by a bike shop tomorrow to see how much I'll have to put into it to fix it up. It looks like a really nice bike, but I'm undecided about what to do. Assuming his bike fits me I want to have a top of the line bike (he paid $1200 back in the day) but at the same time I want to get a new bike and have it be my own. I've definitely decided on getting the Giant OCR3 hands down if I don't end up buying his Cannondale. His Cannondale is a 9 speed double (18) w/ a carbon fork and seems to be in good shape. It just doesn't have the "flashiness/sexiness" that a new Giant would bring to the table

I've gotten the used Cannondale checked out by a couple of shops now and here's the question:

Do I buy a 12-year old Cannondale R600 for $200 that is in pretty good condition but will probably only last 1-2 more years or spend $650 on a brand new Giant OCR3 (which I've heard excellent things about). Keep in mind this is my first road bike so I still have to find out if this is something I want to keep doing. My only hesitation with the Cannondale is it's not in perfect condition so the ride isn't the smoothest possible. I would plan on getting it tuned up, but besides a tune-up I don't want to put much money into it. Also, I don't want to put $200 down the drain on a bike I'll only ride for a year or two when it's only $400 to get a brand new bike that might last me 4-5 years and which I can trade in down the road for an upgrade. What are your guys' thoughts? What would you do in my situation?

Well I am in the same boat...buy a new starter or buy a new upgraded starter...mainly the OCR 3 vs. the OCR 2 or 1...I think you have to do what will make you happy...you won't feel real good riding around on campus with a used out-of-date bike...so with that said I would look towards the OCR 3...if you ride it for a couple years and decide you love riding road bikes then go upgrade to something better...thats exactly what my local bike shop told me yesterday when they fit me for my bike...sounds like good advice...

i'm awaiting a new jamis ventura sport,06, i just bought off ebay for $400. +$75.00 insured shipping. and some guy often has raleigh grand sports,new, for $400. buy now. both have similar components ,sora, and carbon forks.the jamis is quiet a bit lighter tho.
you must be able to assemble and adjust tho, else you'll be rogered by your lbs.
good luck....lechat.