Jordan,

I have actually had a friend offer me his old bicycle after he bought a new one. I have also seen a decent frame and fork at a scrap yard. I probably could have had it for $5. For the time being, you could move your wheels and shifters to a better, lighter frame someone else discarded. Instead of taking the frame, I stripped off the derailleurs and paid $2 total for them. They were a much better quality than the derailleurs that came on my reasonably light weight 40 year old road bike. There are options other than buying something expensive.

I would recommend that you start a file on your computer that you use as your bicycle notebook. Keep obeservations about what you need to wear at what temperatures, as well as things you learn about cycling from reading and from experience. Sometimes we forget things we think we would never forget. Also, keeping a record of our experiences often helps solve new problems when they arise.

By the way, I was raised near Monticello in NE Iowa. Where is your home?