Originally Posted by
woosmaster
That cheap? Maybe I should have mentioned: these distances are just my minimum commutes each day...I'll have to go to the library, grocery store, gf's house, etc...So I will be riding longer than I let on. Will a $100 bike really last me 3-4 years?
Absolutely, if you pick a good one.
My current commuter cost me $175 on Craigslist; I invested some money in new tires, tubes, cables, brake pads, handlebar tape, and fenders. Basics to get going got me to $300 or $400 and it's a *much* better bike than a new entry-level bike.
I ride it 20-mile round trips 3 to 5 days a week, and it's my "rain bike" on weekends; I've ridden it up to 50 miles at a time.
My back-up commuter, and old MTB, cost me $100. I changed the tires to slicks, added fenders and a rear rack, and was ready to go for well under $250 (you could do better with cheaper fenders and tires - I put on pretty good stuff).
It does the same 20-mile round trip with ease, and I've had it on longer rides as well.
The advantage of used is it's not going to look as attractive to a thief (at least that's the hope).