Originally Posted by
exile
My suggestion would be to get something off of craigslist. You would have an opportunity to test ride the bike to see if it fits and look over the bike before you buy. I would look for a name brand bike that is maybe a few years old to save money.
There may also be a LBS that has a used section (you may need to ask an employee since it might not be on the showroom floor) or a bike co-op in your area.
Agreed. It's hard to beat a vintage mtb for commuting. They are stout and comfortable bikes and pop up regularly on CL. Plus they typically don't run a lot of money.