Thrillist: 10 Great Bikes Under $500, According to a Bike Mechanic

Get this bike if: You're interested in getting into fixies but don't want to dish out the big bucks to make it happen. I rode a State for about a year before it got stolen. The bike always felt sturdy, didn't have any major issues (I upgraded the seat), and was used as my primary commuter for that time. Boyajian, on the other hand, isn't a huge fan of online bike stores in general but did recommend State if you're going to take that route. He also recommends having the bike shipped to your LBS (local bike shop) for expert assembly.