A good friend of mine recently gave HuskySooner some buying tips for a new bike.  I think others might be interested:

Hey HuskySooner,

I’m not sure how much you want to spend, but I would recommend a minimum of around $450 if you want something to last.

Now is actually a good time to get ’05 bikes at most shops. Performance Bike is having a big sale that I went to recently. I’m not sure if they have a retail outlet in your location, but you definitely should buy from a local shop or a chain with an outlet near you.

Here are some good bikes at a reasonable price. Performance may not show them online since they might have been in-store only specials.

• ’05 Fuji Silhouette Flat Bar Road Bike $469 (reg $679)
• ’05 Fuji Absolute Flat Bar Road Bike $429 (reg $599)
• ’05 Jamis Coda Sport Flat Bar Road Bike $449 (reg $569)
• ’05 Schwinn Fastback Sport LE Road Bike $499 (reg $719)

You can probably find similar bikes at most shops. The big chain stores are good because they usually have a larger variety. Supergo.com is another biggie.

Brand really doesn’t matter too much at this price point. The above are all probably made in china or taiwan, maybe even at the same factory! They are overdesigned so they will last, at the expense of weight. I would insist on the highest level of components you can get for the money. The shop staff can tell you the levels of components.

Frame material – you will be looking at either steel or aluminum. Steel is a more comfortable ride and a little more durable in the long term but it is a little heavier and can rust. Either is fine – I would go more on overall fit and looks. Yes, you should have a bike that you like!

Good luck.