Welcome To Bike Forums, KT043!

My advice to you, would be to look for a used 80's chromoly steel road bike, that's in fair to good condition. Join a bicycle co-op, so that you can learn basic bicycle mechanics. Upgrade your newly acquired road bike right there, under the watchful eyes of veteran bicycle mechanics.

You might even have the desire to disassemble your bike and have it powder-coated by a professional paint company first. After the upgrade, your bike will both look and perform like a brand new bicycle. When you're done, you most likely would've spent considerably less than seven hundred dollars.

Estimated costs:

Bike - $150

Powdercoating - $100

Upgrades - $150

Bicycle Mechanics Education (Co-op membership fee) - $50

Total = $450