Hybrid Bicycles - Looking for some advice for my first hybrid...

Looking to start riding back and forth to work most days(13-15m one way), and in talking with people here and where I work who ride, I've decided Hybrid is the way to go. I'm going to stick with it unless I like...break my leg or something, but if I like it and wanna get more aggressive with it, I can adjust some things to make it so.

That being said, this is my first bike, and I'm hoping to get away with spending under 300 bucks. Unfortunately, I have NO idea what I'm looking for when it comes to bikes. I've been to a couple places around here, and everyone either has Hybrids that are like 4-5 hundred bucks, or no hybrids at all.

Just looking for a general direction to start looking for specific bikes, brands, whatever. I can search through Craigslist all day every day, but it doesn't mean I know what I'm looking for. Any help is appreciated. Thanks :)

The 300 dollar hybrids I've seen have been from big box stores and based on riding 30 miles a day it may become a throw away pretty quick.
Do your homework and research, then stay active on your C.L. To pick up a good bike in your price range.

I just picked up at Schwinn Tourist from Target. Nice smooth ride, as I have about 30 miles on it so far. It's a higher-end box store bike, and the components seem like good mid-range components. The only thing I have some hesitation on are the wheels, they are paired-spokes, 18 of them I think, instead of 32.

Will it get me on my 15 mile per day commute? I think so. Will the drive train need replacement in a year or so? Probably. But, then again, my LBS told me the Trek 2.1 he recommended would need the same.

It's $250 at Target. But, if you can't tune your bike, add another $40 to take it to a LBS to get a tune up on it. My front derailleur needed adjustment.

I think as long as you shop right, you can get a decent bike at a box store (Not Wally World though). You just need to be careful, and realize that most likely, you'll need to take it to a LBS to get tuned up.

Many LBS's sell used bikes too, with the same care a new one gets (ie 1 year of basic maintenance, and a tune up off the floor).

I purchased this year on CL:

2007 Trek 7.5 FX WSD with 97 miles (it looked exactly like this) for $280
2009 Cannondale Bad Boy (i was not able to find a single scratch) - $300
2005 Trek 7200 FX - (looked exactly like 3 month old 7.2FX with the chain never changed the gear) - $200

Of course I was a dedicated looker for every bike for a month or two

Here ya go; already has fenders & rack and is ready for commuting duty!

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/2545566592.html

yep..sometimes it takes just few minutes to find what you need. :)
The only thing - when you see the deals like this you have to start riding right away and call seller from you car hands-free phone.. :)

here ya go; already has fenders & rack and is ready for commuting duty!

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/2545566592.html

^^^^bargain^^^^^

For $350.00, no tax and shipping included I recently bought a Motobecane Elite FS at Bikes Direct. I like that it has an aluminum frame, suspension fork with lockout and decent components though I would have preferred a cassette hub. This is my third hybrid, I had a Specialized Sirrus and a Raleigh years ago.

Justfitme
"2007 Trek 7.5 FX WSD with 97 miles (it looked exactly like this) for $280
2009 Cannondale Bad Boy (i was not able to find a single scratch) - $300
2005 Trek 7200 FX - (looked exactly like 3 month old 7.2FX with the chain never changed the gear) - $200"

Man! Those are some nice CL scores! I am seriously thinking about upgrading my CL "investments" to the $200-$300 range. I am finding out down here in hillbilly land they don't know what they have or what it is really worth.

Do not get the Schwinn Ranger (if they even still sell it). My wife got one at target before we got married and has ridden it maybe 40-50 miles as it's an absolute pos. I rode it once and agree. It completely turned her off to riding with me. Now she's in a vicious cycle where she won't spend enough to buy a good bike as she doesn't ride enough now to justify spending that kind of money in her mind, but I know if she buys a cheaper one she'll just hate it more and never ride.