BIKE NEEDED ASAP

i decided to start cycle to work the other week and i am riding my friends moms cruiser that is way small and killing me. i need a road bike. if anyone has some old junkers that still have some life left in them, please let me know asap. one more week on this bike and ill be back in the car.
nick

I think your best bet is Maine's Craigslist. If you are diligent about looking, you can find a decent bike for a good price. I found a children's Trek bike for $36 that retails for $175 new.

Good luck.

Can you raise the seat any more on the cruiser?

Police departments have auctions periodically of all the abandoned bikes they've collected and no one has claimed. I don't know when they hold them, but it'd be worth a call to a few departments to see if they have any coming up. (I've never participated, so I don't know how they work.)

I don't know what your price range is, but some bike stores sell some second-hand, but not a lot. (Many are concerned about unknowingly selling stolen ones, and there's practically no profit margin in it.) I know Ernie's in Westbrook does some second-hand business, although usually children's, but you could call. I don't know what other shops do.

Although they are of inferior quality, and the service is poor, a cheap bike from Wal-Mart or such might still be better that what you have, if it fits better, and not set you back very much. Once you become more committed to the activity and can save up some money, you can upgrade later. Or maybe a good deal will come along later.

If you end up with a mountain bike, if you can possibly spring for smoother tires rather than the knobbies it comes with, that will make it much easier to ride on the road - less rolling resistance. If the store you buy it from doesn't carry road tires, all the bike stores do.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

I don't know what your budget is, but this CRAIGSLIST: (Lots of bikes) add intrigues me. If I was in the market for a used road bike I would check them out. Good luck!