Hi there Bgruber1985!
You've gotten a lot of mixed advice here. Most of it is well-intended and warm hearted. However, let's just stick to the facts. The fact remains, that you're on a tight budget. Therefore, I'm most certain that you'd prefer to get the most bang for your buck.
Aluminum frames are fine if purchased new. However, they do have limited stress thresholds. That means, that they all have a finite service life. The longer you use them, the closer you bring them to their point of failure. This stress comes from road vibration, the act of pedaling, and the force the frame is subjected to by placing weight upon the bicycle. Weight upon the bicycle, includes the weight of both the rider and any cargo. Larger, more massive people, subject aluminum frames to greater stress. You're a big guy, Bgruber1985! When you combine all of the stress factors together, that translates into a shorter fatigue life.
Check these sites before you make a purchase decision:
http://talu.com/materials.php
www.brightspoke.com/c/understanding/bike-frame-materials.html
http://tetcycles.com/bikes/frame-materials/
Now, more facts. Flat or near flat hybrid styled handlebars are fine for short distances. What people consider as short distances may widely vary. However, the fact remains that drop handlebars, offer you more hand positions. You can ride in a more aerodynamic style by leaning forward and latching your hands onto the lower hooks, while lowering your head and pedaling faster for optimized speed. Alternatively, you can ride in a more relaxed manner, by holding on to the hoods of the handlebar, sitting more upright in a more relaxed riding postion. There are other hand placements, but the ones already mentioned demonstrate the most range in variation.
If you are able to obtain the Motobecane Mirage I've already suggested, that IMHO would be your best bet. If you for some reason cannot obtain the Mirage, then CL would be your next most viable option. Look for bicycle frames made of chromoly-steel. The frames must be in excellent condition minus paint considerations, with no rust (or very minor surface rust). Make certain that the bike feels comfortable first, then close the deal with payment. I personally own four bicycles, one is a Trek 7.5FX. It has an aluminum frame. It doesn't ride as well as any of my steel-framed bikes. My best riding bikes for long distances are my steel-framed road bikes.
Aluminum can be a good material too, provided that you know something about its history.
Older aluminum frames tend to fail faster than newer ones. We don't make statements like that about steel frames, because that statement is false, as long as that frame has been properly cared for, by keeping it dry.
IMHO, the shorter the ride, and the smoother the road, the more aluminum should be considered as an option.
- Slim
