What to look for in a bike

Ok Folks,

I've been riding bikes for around a year or so. I'm still pretty clueless :(
Two rides are:
Carrea TDF (bought from a mate which may be too small for myself)
Challenge fixie http://argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3323461.htm#pdpFullProductInformation (which I recently purchased better fit, thou 44/16 gearing is a bitch)

Now here in lies the problem :( I am clearly lacking the knowledge on what makes a good bike?

Now my basic understanding of the food chain are:
Frame
Wheels
after this I am somewhat lost.

I realise I am being a nub and annoying :( But alas the world of bikes is rather huge and I've heard that even top price components can even be shit too.

I'm moving to the states in the summer and want to spend around $1k on two bikes. A fixie for fun and getting me around town, when I need to going to the pub, visit my mates, go for a fun ride etc
A geared bike for commuting and long distance riding anything over 15miles.
I really want to get the best bang for my buck and therefore am considering entering the 2nd hand market especially for the geared bike as I know for $1k I would be struggling to get even a decent geared bike new.
I would consider building the fixie from parts and don't mind using the challenge as a Guinea pig to improve my mech (mainly on how to correctly change stems, forks and cranks). How can I be sure not to buy another Challenge, when entering the 2nd hand market.

Cheers

Wire me the money (Western Union only) and I'll get two bikes for you.

Honesty and compassion.

Wheels are good.

Wagon wheels are not.

good legs and a sense of humour
looks aren't always the most important thing you know

Brakes: Don't need them.

aww, I came here to say 'personality' but clearly the funny ones have beaten me to it

on a serious note, get a friend who knows about bikes and get them to buy it, and don't buy a bike from a shop that also sells tents

A massive fucking rack.

Only one rack?

Only one rack?

He's looking for a bike, not a mutant.

How can I be sure not to buy another Challenge, when entering the 2nd hand market.

If the advert says "Challenge fixie bike", don't buy it. It's quite clearly challenging.

Correct me if wrong steps to learning about bikes:

1. Be sarcastic
   
2. Don't talk about bikes
   ????
   PROFIT
   
   

:D

@BMX_Fred sound advice still on the hunt for a biking buddie as not many cyclist in Belfast. I'm more inclined if that's the case to wait till I hit stateside and see heads are there.

You got it!

avoid foffa / create / unipac / anything new thats costs under £200

Don't buy a bike here and ship it to the states.

Put skis on it, and ride it there.

I would recommend you to look up the steerer tube, just in case there is a spider living in it.

This can affect resale value.

if there's no spider you can get one...

on the web

did some one say spider bike

nope

Boom.

All the knowledge you need

http://sheldonbrown.com

http://www.velosolo.co.uk/faq.html

A massive fucking rack.

I like my bikes like my women - a massive rack and ridden hard every day.

essentially, you get what you pay for, unless you get blb to build you a bike, then you get half of what you pay for

essentially, you get what you pay for, unless you get blb to build you a bike, then you get half of what you pay for

or Brick Lane & get what someone else paid for