Originally Posted by
Trucker_JDub
Stay away from department store bikes. You will get garbage components on a heavy cheaply built and poorly welded frame being put together by some minimum wage stock boy that doesn't care and when it breaks there is no one going to bail you out except for your wallet.
Stick to bigger name bikes (Trek, Specialized, Giant, C'Dale just to name a couple) These will be built with higher quality drive components that will have a better chance of lasting you with out breaking. If you go the new bike route go to a LBS (local bike store) and build a relationship with them. You might pay a little more up front but this usually comes with free tuneups and cheaper/free repairs. Also you might find that they have a quality used bike that you could get for pennies on the dollar. Spending a little more time and possible a little more money now will make things a lot cheaper in the long run. Just a couple things to think about.
I dunno, this may be a bit of heresy here, but depending on the length of your ride, you might be ok with a cheap-o department store frame, particularly if you know how to do your own work to keep it in good repair.
I commute on a crap chop-shop bike store bike. I got if for free when my company cleared out abandoned bikes from its racks. I ride it hard - on cobbles (including round cobbles) - and I really push it. Y'know, it's ok....
I wouldn't recommend a single-speed. Although the hipster value is great, if you've got any hills at all - or even like to accelerate well - you'll be faster with less effort if you've got gears.