The Columbia is donation fodder, a real junker. Aim higher. Hit garage sales and similar, and you should be able to find a bike shop branded (higher quality) bike in the $25 to $50 range. Read some of the threads on repainting (rattlecan) bikes. Most report very poor durability on the paint jo, and lots of work on prep. Working on low end bikes is a good way to gain experience, but when you are done, you will have more money into the bike than it is worth. Put the same amount of effort/time/money into a better bike, and you usually can make money on your time. I much prefer making a little money while I gain experience. And it helps fund the next bike.