Originally Posted by
corrado33
While I agree with you, it's hard for people with little bike "sense" to find a "good" bike to buy on craigslist without lots of effort. It's much simpler to buy a new, cheaper bike even though it's technically lesser quality. Now, if the OP would post his local craigslist I'm sure we could find some suitable bikes for him.
Also, if he buys from a shop he can get the lifetime tune-ups and hopefully a good set-up. If he buys from Craigslist he might end up having to take the bike to a shop anyway, and ends up spending just as much---or finding out he bought a bike with a terminal illness.