Regarding bike thrift stores: You're better off checking your local yard sales. If somebody has an old behemoth road bike, they're not going out of their way to drag it down to the SalVal or Goodwill. If you want one fast, put up an WANTED on your local Freecycle list. I did it, and I'm going to some dudes house tonight to take my pick from a pile of them. Instant beater.