Check out you local bike shops and pawn shops for a good used bike. You'll get more bang for your buck if you shop carefully. I ride past a local pawn shop near my office and I see decent bikes parked out front all the time. People buy mountain bikes then don't ride them like they think they will plus our economy stinks around here so I'm seeing more bikes lined up out front. I'm also seeing more used rides in LBSs, they are taking some trades to stimulate slow business around here so cash in hand perks them up on a used ride they don't want hanging around. If you get one from a pawn shop, have your local PD run the serial number before you purchase to make sure you don't end up with a hot bike.