What frame size do you need ? Do You Know? want it step thru Ride in street clothes? maybe a dress Occasionally ?

I commute on a 1996 Gary Fisher Marlin that I got on Craigslist for $50. I replaced tires, tubes, brakes, brake handles, cables and chain for well under your budget. I've thought about converting it to put drop bars on it but have not done that yet. Those old fully rigid steel mountain bikes can be made into wonderful commuter bikes. I do also have a Kona Jake CX bike that I used to commute on. That doesn't get used too much anymore.

How do you like the Kona? I rode one of those at a bike shop and have thinkong about gettinf it.

Do you mean the cannondale? I'm going to look at it today, so hopefully it's in good condition.

With that quote I was actually referring to the nashbar cyclocross bike. Both that and the cannondale would be really good options. Even if the cannondale needs some work, it will be far far cheaper..it already has rack and fenders, is local, and assembled. And you can test tide it thats a biggie. No way to know if an online buke will be comfy or not. The nashbar bike is a good value, but it's more expensive, and a gamble.

Fuji Touring is a good bike for OP's needs, says this one who commutes 19 miles round trip on one. It's also good for up to a bushel of apples with the right panniers (bigger than the ones I commute with!). Tires up to 35, comes with a rack. It might stretch the budget now, but when you only have to replace normal wear items (chains, tires, brake pads), it'll be better on the budget after a few years.

I still wonder (a) how Fuji can sell new bikes for as little as they do, and (b) how other manufacturers can charge so much more for roughly the same bike.

So Emillee Joyce You found any Bike CoOps , in Pittsburgh, PA ? to help you thru the used Bike refurb project?

Yes actually we have several here. I've already been to the one closest to my house with my schwinn. They're all very helpful thankfully!

I went to look at the craigslist cannondale but ultimately decided not to get it. The seller wouldn't budge on the $400 price but the bike was kind of beat up, had rust, etc. I didn't really love the bike. But I'm going to look at the Fuji touring series IV (1984 I think) in the craigslist post I found, so maybe that will work out. It is cheap enough I would still have plenty of money in my budget to fix it up.

I about a 54 cm size in bicycles. I don't ride in street clothes (too uncomfortable) so being able to step through doesn't really matter to me.

Another possibility is to get a basic cross bike from bikes direct, like this https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...liberty_cx.htm

I'd avoid one with a carbon fork since you want to lock the bike up and otherwise knock it around; this bike will do the job for you.

I like it a lot but it hasn't been ridden too much recently. I got it new in 2008 or so and have put a ton of road miles on it. I did want to get into cyclocross but soccer always got in the way. One year I put a new front wheel on with disc brake and dynamo hub. The brake needs adjustment that I just haven't gotten around to. With the state of cheap LED lights today, I would not do the dynamo hub again if I had to do it all over.

Is that 35 + mudguards at the same time? If not, the bike will be fit for most conditions, except snow - studded tyres won't fit under the mudguards - at least the models widely available. Just something to consider if planning snow commuting.

I'm going to look at a 1983/84 Fuji touring series IV today. It's well within my budget though I'm not sure if it counts as an upgrade to my schwinn...

Yes. My Fuji Touring has had problems with a 37 tire interfering with the fenders, but works fine with 35s.

Here's my Windsor Tourist in commuter mode, pulling my BOB trailer. I understand these bikes use the same frame as the Fuji touring bike. Not sure what BD is selling them for these days but mine's a 2010 and still going plenty strong.

You eat a lot of potato chips

You have no idea. My boys can eat!

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. I decided to buy the 1984 Fuji touring series IV I found on Craigslist. It needs a little bit of work but it was well within my budget so I can afford to replace parts on it.

Best of all, the New-To-Me feeling.
(as it is not a "new" bike, similar feeling though).



Enjoy your new ride,

-Snuts-