Very low cost bike needed....

[Fontinalis]

In my city, each burrough proceeds to sell the lost & found stuff that was collected through the year on the street or in public places, public transit, etc. There are bikes in there. Each burrough proceeds at a different time of year, and some enlist a private firm to auction them off. We have to check the local newspapers or call the city and burroughs to find out when and where. I don't know about Austin TX, but it costs nothing to find out if such an auction or sale happens in your city. It might be an interesting opportunity to find a cheap bike. And you would be surprised to see what shows up in those auctions.

[Geonz]

We have a bike co-op where you can go down and pick out a bike from the ranks (this is where the university and police send the abandoned bikes) and "build" it - get it working - with help from the volunteer staff.... ends up costing about 150 for a good bike, though you have to wait for a fresh lot to get a road bike (except this one really cute one... if I wanted road I would do it myself.

Hybrids are much cheaper and you can get a pretty light one... I put a few thousand miles on my hybrids each year.

[txred9876]

Well the cannondale F400 (as I found out I think...LOL) is now mine. I still eventually would like to try a road bike.... once I loose more of this belly!!!

Tina

[hipmama]

Not sure what your resources are but for starters, and I'm sure you have, but make sure you know how to fit a bike so that if you get used, it's going to work well for you.
From there- craigslist, yard sales, and word of mouth. A lot of our bike shops also trade, and thus sell used bikes- maybe something will pop up at a shop by you?
We have a bike rescue program also- people donate their old bikes, and volunteers help you fix them up and call them yours- maybe you have something like that?
Good luck!