A fifteen minute ride, you can ride anything. Each below are better than anything new.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/bik/4010659410.html
Add two 26 X 1.5 road slicks and a new chain, $40 to a $75 bulletproof MTB.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/bik/4010493004.html