I think you need another bike. There is a middle ground where the bike rides and works well and isn't worth a lot of money. I call it a "sleeper" bike, because most thieves don't recognize how nice it is.

You may be able to turn your beater bike into a nice bike, or maybe you should pick up another bike from craigslist. In the Classic & Vintage and the Bicycle Mechanics forums, we can walk you through the upgrade and repair process. And we can save you a ton of money.