General Cycling Discussion - Which bike is right for me?

Hi, I'd like to know which bike is right for me:

I'd normally use it every weekday to commute from home to school, about 1 mile. From home, For the first quarter mile it dips down about 40 feet, then it's flat for another quarter mile, than the last half mile is uphill about 40 feet.

I will occasionally ride around the neighborhood when I feel like it.

I might possibly bring this to college in two years, since I plan to go to a university, which will almost always warrant a bike for rolling around.

I carry a backpack [obviously] to school, which can be any weight from 5 pounds to 20 pounds. I think this year I want to bring my laptop to school daily, too.

edit: This place exists in my city
http://bikeworld.com/
I've been there once, and they look high quality.

I'm in Texas, so in August the temperatures morning and afternoon would be about 80F/30C and 100F/40C, and at the lowest in the winter, 30F/0C to 40F/5C.

I don't want a piece-of-crap walmart Huffy bike, but I don't think I'll need a $5000 ultra-highend bike. I'm not sure what my budget is, but I'd guess right now it is $100 - $250... which I understand doesn't get me many great bikes, seeing as how I see frames worth more than my budget.

Think about getting a couple of old bikes for under $100. Say two old ten speeds with the same size wheels, or two old mountain bikes, rigid. Then with a little more money, you can invest in some tools to put together one bike and have a lot of spare parts for when you need them. You should be able to find great deals on old bikes at yard sales in your neighbourhood.
As for a new bike, your likely to get a heavy one for that price, may not be enjoyable after awhile. New equals shiny equals stolen.

Think about getting a couple of old bikes for under $100. Say two old ten speeds with the same size wheels, or two old mountain bikes, rigid. Then with a little more money, you can invest in some tools to put together one bike and have a lot of spare parts for when you need them. You should be able to find great deals on old bikes at yard sales in your neighbourhood.
As for a new bike, your likely to get a heavy one for that price, may not be enjoyable after awhile. New equals shiny equals stolen.Old bikes are definitely an option, I am looking at craigslist for bikes. Is this one any good?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1313013215.html

This bike is an old Schwinn from 1996. From what I've read, the new Schwinns suck and the old Schwinns are good(Or at the very least OK).

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1312349212.html

Edit: Is suspension really needed for just neighborhood biking? From what I read, suspension seems to be just extra and unneccessary, and usually makes a bike less efficient for most people.

The Giant sounds like a really sweet deal. Get that one if you can. The Schwinn sounds like a light bike though. If you get both, your dad may get upset.

The road I live on is a bit of a steep hill. I know that on my piece of crap Huffy I had an awful time going up it on whatever gear got me going slow but powerful (I think it was first gear). But aren't department store bikes heavy and inefficient?

I've found pictures of the 80s Le Tours, and they look very light-framed, so would the Le Tours be better riding? I haven't found any 90s Le Tour pictures though.

I also found these:

Trek 730 hybrid mid 90's (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1310144041.html)
GIANT BOULDER MOUNTAIN BIKE (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1277528423.html)
Raleigh technium road bike 480 (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1312391370.html)

The LeTour should be under say 28lbs. The Giant will be over 30lbs. Your old Huffy should be over 34lbs. Old ten speeds with only two cogs in the front are not easy to get up a hill. Three rings in the front are a lot better. The LeTour could have 3 up front making that bike the king of the hill.

i don't know if there are target stores where you live, but at the grocery store where i work the workers are getting pretty good commuter bikes in the 150-200 dollar range. already assembled. schwinn brand at the local big box store in your area might be worth looking at.

I think the Le Tour wouldn't be good for me, since it looks too big for me to fit on it. I'm a 5' 3" male.

The Giant Cypress looks to be the best one.

How is this one?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1315388867.html

Found some more:

gary fisher kaitai $250 19in. (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1317297357.html)

Trek antelope 830 (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1314382717.html)

Trek 800 Mountain bike Mens (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1310562900.html)

The frame for the kaitai and the antelope would fit me, but I don't know about the trek 800, it's not listed.

On paper, this one looked great:
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bik/1312349212.html

Honestly, it seems suspiciously low priced and there's not pic, though.

P.S. Didn't have a chance to look at the post right above this one.

I would agree that you don't need front suspension, and on a cheap bike they're usually terrible, so I'd try to stay away from them.

One other thing you should look at is the tires on the bike - knobby tires will be noticeably slower, rougher riding, and have less traction on pavement than a slick. If the bike comes with a fat slick that's fine, just avoid (or just replace) knobby tires.