[MENTION=428311]SnareSide[/MENTION] - Good for you for deciding to bike commute. I hope you will love it as much as those of us here on BF do. I would set aside at least $200-300 of your budget for accessories. You can still get a fine bike for $700-800, but you'll need to add a rack and some panniers (bags that hook on to the rack rail). I would also recommend fenders if you will ride in wet conditions, which includes if the pavement is wet after rain. Finally, get a decent set of lights. If you are riding on well-lit city streets you can get a basic set of blinkey lights (white for the front, red for the back).