I typically spent no more than $50 on any bike I have so far. I go to the flea market up the road, and they know very little and care even less about what they're selling. To them it's just a bike. The same for my local thrift store. If you know where to look you can get decent rides for peanuts. Granted I'm not digging up Campy equipped Italian bikes here, but nothing to sneeze at. You get a bike for $10-$20, suddenly the parts required for resurrection don't seem so costly.,,,,BD

74 Schwinn Super Sport. $10
83 Trek 560 road bike. $10
Late eighties Prelude. $50
81 Chrome Schwinn
Voyageur 11.8 $15
Mid eighties Peugeot PH-10 $9