HI all, I'm new to the road biking scene and would like to get in on it. I couldn't help but notice that the prices of some of these setups rival down payments on cars. I kno it sounds ridiculous but are there any decent models to get me started below $600? I found a Motobecane Mirage Sport 2006 listed at $795 for $325 on Ebay. Check out the link, I'm sure you all know more about it than I do.

Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-ALUMINUM-24-SPEED-SHIMANO-STI_W0QQitemZ7188581567QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

I was originally looking in that range. I think the thing to do is go down to you local shop, look around at $1000-1200-ish bikes and get fit for one. Ride some. Maybe a trek or giant or something. Wait a couple days/weeks, looking online and on ebay for what you liked in the stores. Get a year or two old bike. That is how I would go about buying a $700 bike. But get your sizes right before you buy.

HI all, I'm new to the road biking scene and would like to get in on it. I couldn't help but notice that the prices of some of these setups rival down payments on cars. I kno it sounds ridiculous but are there any decent models to get me started below $600? I found a Motobecane Mirage Sport 2006 listed at $795 for $325 on Ebay. Check out the link, I'm sure you all know more about it than I do.

Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-ALUMINUM-24-SPEED-SHIMANO-STI_W0QQitemZ7188581567QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

It's a mediocre frame with crap wheels and components. You'd be far better off buying a good quality used bike for under $600.

First off, welcome and good to have you here...

Second, and I'm speaking from experience on this, you should base your decision of what bike to buy on the following criteria (in order of importance)

1. Fit / comfort
2. The BEST components you can afford
3. Looks

I suppose you could interchange 2 and 3 a bit if you wanted, depending on your motivations. My first bike (actually a mountain bike which I still have / ride) was full of lower end components and I ended up spending a lot of money upgrading stuff as I got tired of the poor performance. So IMHO, I think once you find the right size / fit you should focus on getting the best components that fit within your budget. And I think this strategy is going to lead you to purchasing a used bike like other posters have mentioned as most any new bike with respectable components is going to exceed your budget...

It should be "make way for the new shill". lol

I jumped on that Motobecane Le Champion SL deal for $1050 shipped just for the Ultegra 10 components. Didnt plan to keep the frameset, but to be honest wasn't all to thrilled with it. Sold the crankset, wheelset, stem, frameset for a total of around $900 on ebay. So I got 6600 shifters, 6600 F&R Derailleur, 6600 cassette and chain, Ritchey WCS bars for $150. That's a steal if you're willing to chop shop (which I kind of like to do for some reason).

From my past and recent experiences, just make sure you buy a quality frame that fits!!! Try and start no lower than Shimano 105 components (can be used) and a decent set of used Mavic Open Pro wheels to start training. GL.

HI all, I'm new to the road biking scene and would like to get in on it. I couldn't help but notice that the prices of some of these setups rival down payments on cars. I kno it sounds ridiculous but are there any decent models to get me started below $600? I found a Motobecane Mirage Sport 2006 listed at $795 for $325 on Ebay. Check out the link, I'm sure you all know more about it than I do.

Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-ALUMINUM-24-SPEED-SHIMANO-STI_W0QQitemZ7188581567QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)
buy used locally
a lot more bang for your buck
craigslist is a great place to start

Thanks you guys are a huge help. So what's the best place online to start buying used components?

Right here in the classifieds ;)

or on ebay

Check out your local bike shops, "LBS" in this forum. Pick out a good shop. These folks will become your friends...

Tell them how much you have to spend, and that you are new at this.

If it's a good shop, they will understand that you are new, and you want to get into this sport. You'll end up with a bike that will be sufficient for you to get started. I bought a Specialized Sirrus Elite about a year ago, under the direction of my LBS. Flat bars, decent components. Dealer treated me like I just spent thousands, and it was $650.00.

At this point, you need a bike that fits you very well, with halfway decent components. If the bike does not fit, you won't stick with it! If the bike does fit, you can upgrade parts or get a new one in a few years.

Maybe they will even direct you to a local club, where someone may be selling a good used bike...

Good Luck! Keep us posted...

in a far-off land. I've ONLY seen 'em sold through a couple of discount e-tailers.

It's a mediocre frame with crap wheels and components. You'd be far better off buying a good quality used bike for under $600.

Wow, lol! I'm trying to get back into roading after 20 years and did the same thing as the other guy. I bought a 2005 Bottecchia;full Campy/Miche equipped; shipped to my doorstep for 535USD. Is this not a good price either?
http://www.bikeshop-korte.de/ebay/b09.JPG
http://www.bikeshop-korte.de/ebay/b02.JPGhttp://www.bikeshop-korte.de/ebay/b03.JPG

I have yet to see a complete Italian bike with fully equipped Italian components for less than 1000USD.

I have yet to see a complete Italian bike with fully equipped Italian components for less than 1000USD.Of course that's using the absolute bottom of the line campy group. And I'm assuming BTC stands for Bottecchia so that means they're using house brand parts for the crankset, seatpost etc. Hardly a "full campy" group.

Does Bottecchia even make their own frames anymore? I read somewhere they were owned by Bianchi. And we know where Bianchi gets their low end frames.

EDIT:

Holy crap did this thread get trimmed!!

Here's the link I posted that was deleted. I thought it interesting:

http://www.insidetri.com/train/bike/articles/2598.0.html

I thought 535USD was a good price for a entry level road bike. Any recommendations for pedals?

Don't know what this has to do with a couple of newbies finding starter bikes but if it turns your crank.....post some more off-topic/pointless information. LMMFAO.

"Of course, a variation of that story has been cycling's hush-hush secret in recent years, during which Italian companies, along with the Americans, Germans, Swiss, French and countless others, have been quietly buying everything from raw castings to finished bikes from Taiwan and labeling them with their own names. But the volume of goods from Taiwan today is making the fiction of a "Made in Italy" or "Made in USA" sticker unsupportable, and it seems that the country of origin jig is finally up.

The Italians are leaders in the high-end bike world, of course, but apart from Campagnolo, which has backed up its commitment to Italian manufacturing with a significant investment in automated carbon production, many companies have struggled mightily of late with the question of where their stuff is actually made. Until recently, cheap freight and the absence of competing Asian brand names made it possible for Italian companies to buy what they needed in the Far East and finish the goods in their own factories. Since the parts were designed and completed in Italy, and the finished items were shipped from there, a "Made in Italy" stamp seemed justifiable, as is the case with many "Italian-made" goods. Your Italian shoes likely began their life in Slovenia or the Czech Republic. Italian suits are often sewn from fabric woven and cut in China or India. Even your cold-pressed Italian virgin olive oil is probably made, in part or in whole, from Spanish olives.

But over the past 24 months, the game has truly changed for bike makers. The crazy subterfuge of shipping raw stems, for example, from Asia to Italy for finishing and packaging, only to ship them back for assembly on bikes destined for North America or Europe, was supportable as long as there were no viable alternatives to the goods. Now, however, with Taiwanese companies establishing their own brands and quality images, price has become crucial, and all that extra shipping and Euro-priced finishing labor is crushing margins and profits.

And so, as you may have noticed, some Italian parts at your friendly local bike shop now bear the stamp "Designed in Italy." A "Made in Taiwan" sticker may or may not be present as well, depending on the... uhh, commitment to transparency, let's call it, of the supplier. And except for the highest-priced goods, where margins still support Italian labor costs, you can expect to see more of the Designed in Italy, Made Somewhere Else stickering at work."

NTTIATWWT.

Don't know what this has to do with a couple of newbies finding starter bikes but if it turns your crank.....post some more off-topic/pointless information. LMMFAO. Considering it refutes the belief your bike is both Italian and "full campy", I'd say it's spot-on.

Just because half the thread was deleted doesn't mean the debate never happened. So don't act like I came out of left field with that link.

There's nothing wrong with asian frames or parts for that matter. If Colnago is gearing up to have low end frames built in Taiwan then that says a lot about their quality. Everything on my bike but the drivetrain is from those fine folks in Taiwan.

Covenant, thanks for that info! It's interesting what all the companies are doing to lower their cost. I was leaning toward a TREK just because it was American-made, but for me, the fit of the bike prevailed, and I've got a Taiwanese made frame. Great frame, but I would have preferred to pay toward some US worker's job...

Great frame, but I would have preferred to pay toward some US worker's job...I hear ya!

Don't know what this has to do with a couple of newbies finding starter bikes but if it turns your crank.....post some more off-topic/pointless information. LMMFAO.My daughter has a Taiwan Barbie bike and loves pink.

Don't know what this has to do with a couple of newbies finding starter bikes but if it turns your crank.....post some more off-topic/pointless information. LMMFAO. nice try...

Considering Lifelover quoted you also, it kinda defeats the purpose of attributing your quote to me.

I thought 535USD was a good price for a entry level road bike. Any recommendations for pedals?
It's a great price for an entry level bike. My first was a Schwinn SS with Tiagra group and it was $700 iirc. I'm still using components from it on my present ride. I built up the frame as a singlespeed this summer.

pedals?
I've used Looks and Crank Brothers candys. I loved everything about the looks except for the annoying squeak that would develop from time to time. I hear the newer models are squeak-free, so maybe that would be a good option. Hard to walk in, however.
I love my new candys. quiet and easy to walk in. I'm still having trouble clipping in, old Look habits die hard. They unclip so easy it's hard to believe you were clipped-in in the first place.
You can find both the candys and the plain eggbeaters for $50 everywhere, so nows the time to buy.