$200 hybrid, road style?
 

I have a GT Tachyon 3.0 I paid $450 for, plus $150 for a seat post suspension, plus some accessories (kickstand, rack, basket, computer...), and so on...

I want to get my hands on a decent $200 or less hybrid set up road-style, or a road bike in that range. Drop handlebars are a plus. I'll be looking into a Kryptonite Evo/Mini or such U-lock for it, i.e. a decent but also fairly low-cost lock.

The bike will be used for night excursions, for example to stick to a bike rack along a dark road about a city block's distance from a bar between the hours of 10pm and 2am in an area which has about 25-50 visible cops positioned during that time (perpetually surrounding a couple buildings) due to the high level of crime. I don't expect the police to be a deterrent to theft. I don't expect component theft; however, the wheels will be secured. Lock nuts for the wheels would be interesting...

I do not expect theft; however, I do plan for it. I do not expect a better bike than my GT Tachyon; however, I expect it to be serviceable enough to get me 3 miles down town, or do my daily commute to work without falling apart. It might make a nice back-up bike; but to me it's primarily a high-crime dodge for the short trip so I can go down town at night without risking significant property loss. Yeah, losing a $150 bike via destruction of a $40 lock would suck; less so than losing a $700 bike or a $1700 bike.

Riding under the influence can get you in quite a bit of trouble as well. Maybe you should have this guy on speed dial for when you get caught:
http://www.chrismartslaw.com/Drunk-D...focus=overview

I never get drunk. Well, 6 or 7 times maybe, total... each worse than the last, confined to my room, counting back and seeing what happens. It always turns out worse.

Hmm, craigslist mentions are mentionable.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2433522778.html

This looks decent, needs new cassette and possibly chains and chainrings ... my inseam is what? Heel up to the inner thigh is 31, contact at 28 inches ... 21.25 inches to the center of the crank from the seat tube, 6.8 in crank... bike is too big for me.

I'll look around, maybe I'll get lucky.

My main commuter for the last 15 months has been a Diamondback Insight RS that I picked up from Performance on sale for $199. Doesn't have the drop bars, but it comes with fenders and a rack. Been a good workhorse for me, although I did have to replace the cheap wheels at about 200 miles for a stronger set. I'm a clyde and when I'd load up the rear rack and sprint away hard at stoplights I'd break drive side spokes. If you're a lighter person the stock wheels would probably do you fine.

When I read this I thought a vintage road bike would be just what you are looking for. I would think you could find something good for $200.

Here is one option and this seller seems to have a bunch of ready to ride bikes so that might be a place to look. I don't know if prices are high there or not. but the bikes he has for $195 would be more like $100-$150 or so here (fixed up by flippers) but bikes are pretty cheap around here.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2457967175.html

$200 means Craigslist, I think. Or maybe local thrift stores. Does Bikes Direct have anything in that price range?

You could always get a brand new Denali.

Used.

I spent $90 on my commuter bike that's almost as old as I am, fits me dead nuts perfectly and I don't think anyone would ever steal it. I spent $10 on new brake + shifter cables and a bottle of wax based chain lube, adjusted everything, and put about 12 miles a day during the week riding it to work.

it was a trade-in at the LBS.

Denali eh. An old Panasonic looks to be of better quality for the same price.

Pretty sure the Denali reference was a joke. Read the Denali thread for epic lulz.