I'm pretty sure there's some middle ground between the gold and blue labels. For the O.P., just look for a decent road frame that fits you. Ebay, craigs list, garage sales are all good places to look. Being near a campus (if you're staying for the summer) i'm sure there are people getting rid of bikes. All you really need is a new rear wheel. You could get a matching set if thats important to you. You can use the same bars/brakes/cranks that come on the bike. Just strip off the stuff you dont need (front and rear deraileur, rear brake(if you're going fixed), extra chainrings... etc. A new set of wheels will cost you between $140 and $200. the bike you can probably pick up for less than $100.