low budget = bad bike..?

I had to keep my eyes peeled on craigslist for 2-3 months before a good deal at the right price in the right size came up.  I was glad I waited.  I got a great 2004 Felt with a free brand new expensive helmet and a computer. 

Be patient but you need to know your size in the different brands. 

Thanks for the advice. I will scope out my LBS this weekend and see what they have to offer..

So I take it the mentioned bikes on bikesdirect.com are trash?

Not at all.  The main problem with buying from them is that you don't get to try the bike out or have a fitting before you buy it, and when it arrives you have to take it to the LBS to have it set it up or do it yourself.

I was very happy with the road bike I got from them for ~$500.  My sister rides it now and she loves it.

I know there are some negative stories out there about bikesdirect, but here they seem to be generally positive.

A summary of a couple of the recommendations I found on here about bikesdirect:

Choose your size carefully - look at the frame measurements etc that are provided and see how they compare to bikes you have tried at the store.

Unless you are extremely proficient, have an LBS that you trust assemble the bike for you.  Also, have them help you with fit after it is assembled.

The general feeling seems to be that most people would buy from their LBS if they could afford it, because of the follow-up service and tuning that goes with that and the opportunity to try several bikes.  However, if money is your primary concern it can be tough to justify paying LBS prices.  If you are careful, bikesdirect can be a good option.  You can get a decent bike with good components for a very good price.

Good luck.

What do you think of this bike? It doesnt look like a 2008 to me.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/bik/844899928.html

I dont see the size though...the location is close enough to where I can ride it first.

I can't comment too much on the bike itself as I am definitely no bike expert but (as you probably know) that's a bikesdirect bike being resold.

Current version: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/mirage_pro09.htm

A BT member posted a review of it here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/gear/review.asp?reviewid=1018

If the size is OK, it can't hurt to try it out, right?

One thing I noticed is that the components listed on the craigslist ad don't quite match the ones on the bikesdirect site (craigslist says 105 rear derailer etc) - I would double check on that stuff and to make sure there is no damage etc.  Otherwise in my completely non-expert opinion, worth a look if you were considering bikesdirect anyway?...

Good luck.

It looks like a good buy, saves you about $150 from the bikesdirect price, plus this one comes with pedals if you don't have any currently.

I do however wonder if this is really a brand new bike and why he is selling.  Its a 2008, but that doesn't mean he hasn't ridden it.

In addition to craigslist and ebay (you can search within a radius of your zip), you should try to find a local bike or tri club's website. They often have message boards and will often have bikes for sale. It's also a good idea to post a "wanted to buy" thread there. When I entered tri's, I found several bikes this way but I was looking for sub $100 '80s bikes. I ended up with an '87 Schwinn with Shimano 105 components for $40. 

Once I was hooked, I kept an eye out for a tri bike and not long after I found a '95 Klein tri bike with Ultegra components for $375. I read a ton about sizing and fit and I'm a mechanical type, so I was pretty sure I was prepared to buy a used bike without the aid of an LBS.

If you're looking for a tri bike, you can get some really good deals on the older round tube models of the late '90s and earlly '00s(Klein Aeolus,  Quintana Roo: Kilo, Private Reserve, USA Special Edition (steel), Cannondale MultiSport line: MS600, MS800, MS2000 are a few nice ones). Despite the minimal aero advantage of the shaped tubes (aero fork makes more differnece), most people will not consider a bike with round tubes. One thing to keep in mind, though is these older bikes mostly have a 78* seat angle & 650c wheels as opposed the now common 76* seat angle and 700c wheels.

If you're looking for a road bike, you should be able to find more available and may not have to wait as long. Personally, I wouldn't settle for anything less than 105 components unless it's a real good deal.

Oh, and I agree the bikes direct bikes are fine, especially the normal road/tri bikes. My problem with BD is that they have NO R&D. They usually copy the specs of another bike and have their factory (which makes alot other bikes too) make it. I found this out first hand when I was building a fixed gear bike. They were basing the frame on the Surly Steamroller  but wanted for larger tire clearance. They spec'ed it so large, even the 'long reach' brake calipers wouldn't reach the rim on the rear and didn't realize this until after they received their first shipment of 500 frames, which just happened to be the time they first attempted to build a bike with the frame.

I have no doubt the quality is as good as other bikes similarily spec'ed and they are a really good deal. My opinion is that I'd rather give a little more money to a company doing the R&D and not trying to get sales based on older bike companies that have let their US name rights expire.

I admit that this part makes me uncomfortable, especially since they (imo) hover on the brink of intentionally misleading people towards thinking that the bikesdirect bikes are from the same company as the original ones.

For example, under the listing for a Mercier label bike on the ebay outlet for bikesdirect, it used to say something like "LANCE ARMSTRONG RODE A MERCIER IN HIS FIRST TOUR!!!" - neglecting to add that THAT Mercier was a company that was wound up many years ago.

Also, the websites that they throw up for each of the labels are kind of ridiculous and are probably pretty much just there so that they can claim that there really is an "MSRP" (which no-one ever actually pays).  See www.cyclesmercier.com, www.motobecane.com etc

However, as camy says, if you can get past ALL of that stuff and just look at the price and what you get for it, it can be a good deal for some people.

I was looking not so long ago and Craigslist.com was a good site also bikesdirect is where I purchased my motobecane.  Craigslist I bought a KHS carbon fork bike for 500 cash but It was small for me so I ended up selling it shortly after.  Good luck.

edit:  I shouldve read the other posts they pretty much covered all I said.

This is great advice.  A friend of mine just bought an '06 Trek Pilot 2.1 with computer, pedals, shoes, etc...for $400.

I have this bike.  I bought it off ebay and have been very happy with it so far.  For a limited budget its not a bad option, probably the best option for a new new bike at that price.

I settled for bikesdirect!!

This small town of mine has one bike shop at it absolutely sucks.  They had maybe 5 road/tri bikes and when I asked for a fitting, the guy looked at me, didn't ask any questions and said I was 56cm..Then he asked what my height was and he stuck with his answer.  I asked him that it is not that easy, but he swore that he was experienced and he knew exactly what my size was.  Anyway, I used the online charts after measuring my inseam and determined I'm 58cm, which is the bike I bought.  Needless to say, it fits perfect!

Also with this small town, there were not too many used bikes that I can actually ride prior to purchasing, so I played it safe and bought a new bike on bikesdirect (Dawes Lightning 1500).  It arrived in three days which I was amazed at, and so far so good, I love it.  I'm new to biking so this bike will keep satisfied for my beginner training and in a year or so I'll move up.  Thanks for all the advice everyone.