Why is finding a beater bike so hard?

[Owlie]

I'm hunting for a beater bike, and while I know I'll have to ship it, I'd rather do it here so I can still get my discount on anything it might need, and free/cheap help with fixing it up.

This is next to impossible, apparently. Craigslist seems to be full of either total pieces of crap that are rather...optimistically priced, BMX bikes, or really HUGE road bikes. None of these options are helpful.

I've contacted someone about a steel Giant Iguana from like 1992. It might be a little small, but we'll see...

[Sylvia]

Have you checked out ebay or maybe even a local pawn shop?

[Crankin]

A lot of the second hand stores here often have bikes parked outside. Most of them are kids' bikes, but once in awhile I've seen mixtes or mountain bikes. These are the types of stores where I might go looking for vintage clothes, not bikes.

[Irulan]

What size? I have a 16" steel Giant Sedona I'm going to be selling. This frame is from back when it was a mountain bike, not a comfort bike like the name is now. I've done some improvements to it over the years....can't exactly call them upgrades but things like adding v-pull brakes and an 8 speed cassette to replace the original 7 speed one. PM me if you want to know more. Oh, I'm 5-4

[Irulan]

Oh I want $150 for mine, I can post some photos.

[Owlie]

Have you checked out ebay or maybe even a local pawn shop?

Trying to stay local, because I'll have to ship it again and it would be silly.

Today I've managed to find: a Surly LHT in my size, in a rather cool olive green, a Salsa road bike in my size that would just need new bar tape (because what the current owner has on it looks like vomit!), and a Madone in a size that might fit. Oh, and a cute pastel-pink mixte frame in Indiana.

Thanks, Craigslist.

Irulan--I'm just shy of 5'7", but it might work (short torso, longish arms). Pictures would be awesome!

[Irulan]

I'll pm you. It's actually a little long on the top tube for me; I have a really short stem on it.