Hello everyone!
I live in Portland, Or and recently purchased an SC Draft Lite. I need to bike the 3 miles to school, and bike around the city as I do caregiving for people with disabilities. Low-cost, low-maintenance.

I had the bike five days before someone sliced the lock, and stole the bike outside someone's house I was providing care for. I'm heartbroken, and broke!

All this being said, I need your advice on a roadbike for myself.

My question is 2-fold:
1) I need a single-speed, roadbike,under $300. what bike do you recommend, and where should I get it?

2) I need a U-Lock that the most determined thief wouldn't bother with. Stolen bikes is pandemic in PDX.

I make minimum-wage, so don't bother recommending me a bike that's over $300.

Bikes I'm possibly looking at:
Motobecane Messenger
Nashbar Hounder
A single-speed Micargi?

ps. Or you could just give me that dusty one you never ride anymore. Do it for love. Do it for charity. Do it for the children.