Originally Posted by oldlugs

I thought so too but I haven't found anything but junk or new, and anything new is aluminum and made in China.
I took a walk this morning through a local flea market, I found lots of Chinese junk, all needing work, a late 90's Raleigh that wouldn't shift and in need of new spokes and rims for $250, and a Walmart Schwinn that looked new but with some missing hardware for $150.
After what I've been seeing, $300 or so for a bike I can ride away doesn't seem all that bad.
There isn't anything on the bike shop floor under a grand, and nothing in a steel frame or in my size. It seems mountain bikes and leisure bikes don't come larger than a 23" frame? The all plastic derailleurs and click shift stuff don't instill confidence in me either.