Hello! I recently moved to a more urban area where I can commute to classes/work via bike. I am a college student so my budget is pretty limited (around $150), but I'm looking for suggestions for a good first time commuting bike. I am about 5'4 and would most likely be using the bike daily in the city. I would be riding on mostly flat paved roads and for distances of about 5-6 miles at most.
Thanks in advance!

For that budget you won't be able to get anything decent buying new. However, you might be able to get something half decent used if you are in a more metropolitan area. You could maybe get a bike from Walmart for $200. What's your location? Folks around here love shopping for bikes, especially with someone else's money.

At that budget, Craigslist FTW.

Best candidate, look for a 90's era mountain bike. Preferably old enough to have a rigid fork instead of suspended, but not so old it has cantilever brakes, V-brakes are so much easier to deal with.

Bonus points if it already has slick/urban tires instead of knobbies and a rack.

You could also do well with pretty much any 'hybrid' bike. 5-6mi is a moderate distance, depending on your fitness (which will improve) and hills, you'll probably be doing 30-60 min each way.

This. There are a lot of us here that went that route.

Agree you should be looking for a used non-suspension mountain bike or a "hybrid". Make sure the brakes work (cheap to adjust and install new pads), oil the parts that need oil (e.g. the chain), replace the chain if it's rusted, adjust the seat, buy a u-lock and ride away. Just make sure it's not stolen.

Just go to the local bike co-op

IMO the fleet of great-for-commuting, early 90's mountain bikes is now 25yo, shrinking and rusting. The age ended in model year 1992 or 93 when SRAM successfully sued Shimano for its group set discount, and was truly over when non-damping forks arrived on bikes below $500. I'd look for a half decent hybrid that's 10-15yo, something with Shimano Acera RD.

I'm a huge craigslist fan! However, I (obviously) don't quite know what I'm looking for. I'm in the Pittsburgh area, and would definitely appreciate some shopping help!

Take a look around, anything that catches your eye, drop a link here -- we love to look at pictures of bikes and give opinions!

Also how tall are you? We can try to eyeball if a bike may be radically too big/small.

If you give this group a rough estimate of where you are they'll scour CL for you.

For your budget, think used bike and if you don't know a lot about how to look at a used bike I would .

The important thing for a commuter are you don't want to skimp on frame integrity and tires. For gearing - it all depends on how many hills you have to climb - I'd look for any grade Shimano in good repair.

You'll want to leave room in your budget to invest in lights, reflective gear, whatever you need to get the right clothes and computer to your work and a helmet. Finally, if you're considering a specific bike, google it. You'll find plenty of threads about recalls and positive or negative experiences.

Glad you're joining us on the road to work :-)

Pittsburg. I had a cursory look at the first couple of pages but nothing stood out, but maybe someone with a more discerning eye can spot a diamond in the rough.

This might do. Looks size small and sporting goods store quality, but it has a full set of rack, bag, lock.
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...254439021.html

This one is a little better, equivalent to my own contemporary Hardrock, but it's got one of those dreaded cheap suspension forks and is not in running order
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...269353987.html

This is one of those great 90's bikes. https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...212062296.html
Here's another, ladies' model I think https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...262692921.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...273939659.html


There's always this sort of thing... from the seventies https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...201939306.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...231590183.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...232936610.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...261451285.html

Lotta good choices in there. That first one including the Topeak rack trunk, that's a good deal (if it fits you)

Make sure the bikes aren't stolen. But, the first one is a good deal if it runs.

I like these in my area, good luck

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...271347505.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/bi...259315633.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bi...268507919.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...273659875.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...274339567.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bi...268674397.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bi...274332680.html

I knew we'd come through! Helping someone else buy a bike is almost as good as getting another one for yourself, and most of this group thinks you can't have enough bikes.

Another place to look is Facebook. Here in Texas there are several Bike Buy/Sell/Trade groups.

N+Ghost? Virtual N+1?

I love that 'ladies' one - the U-brake under the chainstays is a neat touch, opens up the space the brake would normally be, which is often in the way of a rack and/or saddlebag on small frames like that.

Here's one I recently grabbed from CL for $160 for my wife. It's a light, steel framed '05 Jamis Coda Sport. I did have to tune it up, so even a $100 - $150 most likely will end up around $200 or more to get it working right.

I upgraded the handlebars, grips, stem extender, pedals, and tires for her, but the wheel needed truing and all the cables, housing, and brake pads needed replacing. You won't need to do all thing things I did, but you should consider the cost of getting a decent tune-up.

But, now she has a kick ass "new" bike.

Where do you live? Or did I miss that?

But yes, solid fork mtb, or a hybrid of some sort can be had in decent condition for well under $150. If it were me, and a first time commuter, I'd spend ~$75 on something rideable, then spend the rest on excellent, durable, and relatively fast commuting tires like Schwalb Marathon Supremes.

I'd take an ugly, semi-rusty bike (as long as it rides smoothly) with excellent tires than a mediocre bike in excellent condition with garbage tires.

I think I may have found a good one.. however, I'm not allowed to post URLs! If someone could take a look for me, it's the "1991 Emerald Green Miyata Triplecross Cross Touring Bike" listed on the Pittsburgh craigslist for sale section. I'd appreciate it!

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bi...280068090.html

Early MTBs do make decent commuters. I ride my '89 Trek 7000 (w/ road tires) to work once or twice a week, and after a little maintenance and minor adjustments to suit my preferences, it works really well in that role. I think I paid $100 for the thing. In that price range it's pretty hard to go wrong.

I don't yet know much about the reputation of that bike and those components, but the size and configuration look great for your height and intended use. Other than the front tire being mounted backward and the brake levers being aimed lower than I'd like, both of which are easily corrected, the bike looks tidy, and that counts.

If the bike is in decent condition and you like the way it feels, it'll most likely do the job you need it to do. You can ride it as-is, upgrade as necessary, or trade up when the time is right.

In your shoes, I'd get in touch with the seller as soon as possible. Good luck!

Most urban areas will have something like a bike co-op. See if you can find something with 2 wheels that goes forward.
Seriously though, I picked up my mountain bike, an older Specialized hardrock pro, for $100 on craigslist. All it really needed was some fresh oil on the chain and a new set of tires. I have since bought a commuter specific bike, but the Spec did fine until I could afford something nicer.