When I started my first commute, I shy away from drop bar because of the riding position while my hands are on the brake lever. Then I tried a drop bar with an additional top inline brake lever. I love the top bar brake lever. It allow me to use a drop bar and able to sit more upright while still have those brake lever within reach if I need them right away. The drop also give me the option of going into the drop against a headwind.

Most drop bar bike don't come with that extra brake lever but it can be install any time. REI quoted me about $60-&70 dollar to install. If you are considering a drop bar but hate the brake lever position or the riding position because of the brake lever, then talk to your LBS about this option. Better yet, test ride a bike with this (such as a Fuji Newest or Specialise Tricross) and see how you like it.

Yeah I can see why that would have you concerned. Looks like you are land locked by 50+mph roads. I have area like that near me and I sure wont ride it but I have a good way around it. Velocity poisoned traffic coming off the hwy without having to stop at a light or stop sign is a bad combination. While that is not access controlled road it might as well be.

Now look at that rail spur to the left of the interchange. The fist spur above 64 becomes a road. What is the possibility running down the side of that spur under 64? That would let you run through the buisness complex and use a light to cross Greenbriar on Woodlake. A hybrid like the Buzz I posted would be fine on that road if there is a packed path leading becide the rail line.

You do seem to have a shortage for Hybrids in your are. Some really good deals on road bikes though.

WOW What a DEAL! Loaded and ready to comute! That is one of the finest touring bikes of the early 80's. Right in there with the Miyata 600-1000's and Treks. Bomb proof 40spoke back wheel.
https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1719746498.html I have one of those. GREAT bike! That looks like a 52-54cm. You might have enough leg for it if you like the road bike style better then a Hybrid. It has 27x1 1/4 tires (roughly a 32mm wide tire) It will do good on packed trails if that Rail spur is viable. If you can flat foot that bike with a 2-3 fingers between your pubic bone and the top bar you can ride it. https://classicfuji.com/1984_13_Touri...esIII_Page.htm $30 worth of fenders and you would be there.

If nothing else try to buy that for the bags if is too big. Relist it for $200 and let it go for the first offer over $160 and make a little coin on that one.

The Schwinn at the bottom is one of their under appreciated bikes. Thats a really good price. I resold one of those for $150. That bike was built in Japan by Panasonic. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1711675468.html

Rockhoppers are good bikes. I normally do not like suspension for riding on the road but that is one of the few bikes I currently see in the style I think you may be interested in. This is a late 90's if not newer. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1711114943.html I would let that one sit for a another week and see if it is still available and offer then $200. MAKE SURE THE SHIFTERS WORK PERFECT. Shifters like that tend to hang as the grease dries out with age. A lot of times you can flush them with WD40 and get them working but use it as leverage for the price if they hang. $20 and $30 installation you can get them replaced with Grip shifts from most bike stores.

Little down the line from the hopper but a decent bike. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1710153351.html

Good price same deal with the shifters. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1709698036.html

Decent Hybrid with tires biased for the road. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1705607170.html

WOW! OMG I WANT! This Nice fixer upper if the frame and not rusted. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/1697566570.html Damn shame somebody let it fall into such disrepair. I'd buy that in a heart beat to fix and flip or give to my wife. Bridgstones were very nice and that bike has a kick ass head badge .

Grant from Rivendell (Nice $$$$ https://www.rivbike.com/ ) use to work there and that may have been when he was there making that a "poor mans (or ladys in this case) Rivendell". Set of Dove handle bars and you basically have a Betty Foy. Grant frequents the site BTW

If you jump on that That bike needs a $100 tune up (full lube and cables), tires (get Pasela's for $30 each) and look at a Terry Saddle ($50 on sale at Performance bike). If you want to make it into the Riv Betty then $40 for bars and $40 or so for brake levers. That honestly would make a wonderful bike. I wish I was close enough to come grab it. You might want to hit the classic and vintage forum and see if there is a member in the area that might take on that as a project for you if you like it. That would put you close to your $300 budget.

Wow, thanks for the feedback on those, Grim! I'm at work ATM, but I'll defenitely start calling around on some of these once I'm off. I've noticed that the periodic Schwinn road bike pops up with some regularity, so I'll keep my eye out for those. I was a little wary about Craigslist since I'm not the most well versed in bikes, but if a local shop can do a tune up on these, that defenitely makes me feel better about going for them!

At work ! What are you doing surfing BF?

Here's a site with good info on older used bikes, buying, fixing etc. Randy jawa does a good job. It'll keep you busy for a few hours. You might also pop into Classic & Vintage if you buy a vintage bike. Everyone there loves to help out keeping old iron on the road.

https://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/

Welcome to bike commuting! Plenty of good comments on bikes, I'll try to address the route. The VDOT bicycling pages summarize the info on where you can/can't ride. Limited access roads are OUT, however 50mph roads (WITH a well-maintained shoulder, or slightly slower roads with a wide curb lane) are fine. Many people in NoVA use the Fairfax County Parkway /Rt 7700 shoulder, and I frankly think it's safer than the poorly-maintained side MUP, especially where it crosses 2 major side roads and the Dulles Toll Rd on/off ramps.

Looking at your map, how are the crossings to either side of Greenbrier Pkwy (the Battlefield Blvd or Indian River Rd overpasses)? Looking at the google maps overhead image, while there is a decent-looking shoulder on the overpass, the approaches and rest of the roadway appears to lack any shoulder of substance (typical VDOT design flaw, and it makes any backup due to accident or disabled vehicle MUCH worse). Are there any bus routes in your area you could use to cross I64? I looked into this when I thought I'd have to be commuting through an area where the most direct route crossed a major highway and is unbikeable. Alternates added several miles to an already longish ride, so I was seriously considering doing bike-bus-bike.

I'd suggest using tires known for puncture resistance as busy roads often have a lot of debris on the sides/shoulders. Regardless, carry replacement tubes (at least 2) and tools/pump so you can self-recover from 2 flats (in case you don't remove what caused it on the 1st tube!) and practice changing a tube using ONLY what you carry on the bike. And it sounds silly, but mount a decent size red reflector on the back (for VDOT-compliance) and consider running a strobe-style taillight (Planet Bike Superflash or clones) and bright clothes or vest for increased DAYTIME visibility. A mirror (helmet or sunglass mounted) is excellent for easily checking what's overtaking you, especially when riding near fast-moving traffic.

I use a Look mirror attached to my glasses. I'd recommend getting used to a mirror... try not to let it distract you from what's in front. Remember to take a good forward look, before you go to the mirror and have it adjusted so that a quick glance gives you all the info you need. I use the first 30 feet of my commute to test brakes and check/adjust the mirror.

+1 on the bike shop hybrid.
Giant FCR in my sig started off as a flatbar standard road hybrid. The bike itself only costs 400 because it was last years leftover, but at least it came with a warranty and 20% off all the 150 dollars worth of stuff I bought that day on top of the bike.

Because my position lets me take my hour lunch in convenient 10 minute snippets.

Battlefield is a little lighter, but undergoing construction at the moment. Indian River is pretty hairy during the work week due to Regent University being right off of it. I'm actually considering going one overpass further down past Indian River, to Providence Road. It's just an overpass, no ramps, and has sidewalks on either side. It's also much lighter traffic because it's mostly neighborhood traffic and a little traffic to schools on that road.