Thanks for the tips. I most definitely would not be buying new at this point but keeping an eye out on Craigslist etc. since I have a bike that is decent enough and therefore am in no hurry (besides I'm still a student etc.). As far as the frame material, steel is no problem (and really is probably the best overall material anyway as far as comfort and durability)--really, it's probably more the riding position than the weight of the bike that is the issue. Maybe I should go into the LBS and see if there's anything simple I can do to improve that on my current bike. I probably should have mentioned that I am about 5'2" with a 30-inch inseam, so the 26" wheels on some bikes would if anything probably be a good thing in my case.