AIRchrist,

If what you have to spend is $200 and you want new then I'd say buy a beach cruiser and use the rest as the beginning of your savings. I'm dead serious. Here's why - there is no such thing as a new $200 bike that is worth upgrading - period and there is no such thing as a new $200 bike that runs anything but coaster brakes that is safe. But, if you purchase cruisers you can get back out on the road and once you have your finances together and you purchase reasonable quality, safe bikes the crusiers become your town beaters. You don't want anything to happen to them but if they get stolen or molested it's not the end of the world. Used is a whole different ball game as you can always get lucky at a garage sale/goodwill/whatever.