Recommend me a bike!

[FleshLight]

I'm looking to spend no more than $250 on a bike that'll be used for commuting from my apartment to class and also some short distance road trips (~10 mi). It'll probably have to be a hybrid. I know that I'm severely limited by my price but I was wondering what would be a decent used bike in that price range?

 

[Shawn]

I have this.

 

[RiDE]

It's going to get stolen. Get a $60 Wally world bike.

 

[mechBgon]

If you can find an older, used, good-quality mountain bike with a steel frame, no suspension fork, and maybe Shimano's Deore-series components, go for it. You can always slap on some hybrid-width slick tires if you feel the stock tires are too slow.

Pay attention to frame size too. For a rough frame-size guideline, subtract 10-12 inches from your slacks inseam. I wear 32" jeans, I subtract 10-12 inches from 32, I get a frame-size range of 20 to 22 inches. For road riding, I can do the taller end of the range; for off-road, the shorter frame may be better for crotch clearance during "unexpected manuevers."

If you're going to have to get a Wally-world bike, buy it used from a bike shop. At least then you can expect it to be safely assembled and tuned to whatever potential it may have. But if you can get an older Deore-level, shop-quality bike, it may pay in the long run when you don't end up buying a new rear wheel because the bearings disintegrated, etc etc.

I'm following my own advice, I bought a used GT Bravado LE, probably a '00 model.

 

[GasX]

Buy a used bike off eBay.

 

[JLGatsby]

Will this one work?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2512987