road bikes

[CarrieLO]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions on a good road bike for a reasonable price....
I am fairly new to biking and pretty clueless on what I should look for. Something for everyday use. BUT...Maybe even to race on if I get to that point. Any help I could get would be greatly appreciated. :)

[davkatreb]

Get yourself an old touring bike. They are plentiful, and ridiculously cheap. Do yourself a favor, though, and look for one with decent wheels, alloy for sure, preferably 700, though 27" will do.

Pull off the derailers. Go to your favorite LBS and ask for a track cog that will give you about 60-65 gear inches. Dig a bottom bracket lock ring out of the junk pile. Assemble, or have a mechanic you trust assemble, the wheel with cog and lock ring. Shorten the chain as needed. Go ride.

All this can be done for scandalously cheap. My beater fixie, an old Fuji, cost all of $75 to build, including the bike. I have a beautiful, straight old Schwinn Traveler, lugged steel, 4130 chro-mo, that I got for $10 (ten dollars) at a yard sale. I have finally ordered a proper fixed wheel set, Suzues and MA-3s for my go-fast bike. Life is sweet, or at least it's getting there.

Seriously, for the drop-bar experience, there is no bigger bang for the buck. Try it. I promise you will become hooked. Resistance (except of the backpedaling variety) is futile.

Enjoy.

[CarrieLO]

Awesome. My other half will be more than thrilled to know that he can help me put together one for less and 100 bucks! Can't argue with that one~ I appreciate your advice.
Being pretty new to this is exciting and I am having a blast... but I still have a TON to learn!
in fact heading out right now to get some riding in.... Thanks again