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How do I buy a used bike? I'm a poorfag and I haven't rode a bike (a Toys'RUs special mountain bike) since I was a teenager. So I know very little - and despite some efforts I'm finding it hard to find authoritative sources. Links in the OP look a little overwhelming in breadth and navigation, and not necessarily written as normie primer.
Anyhow, I live in New England in hilly town with shit for cycling lanes. The sidewalks can be in a rough state (and sometimes nonexistent on some streets). I figure a hybrid/commuter bike will be a good bet. Just for short rides around town to the 7-11/farm store/cafe, longest ride would be occasionally to a friends house about 6 miles away. I've ran these areas before but not sure how biking them will be. I'm 5'11 and 220lbs (working on it, hence the bike). AFAIK I need Large/~56cm frame and wheels of 700C/27" (maybe?). Single speed is definitely not gonna cut it here, my last bike was 3x7 but not sure I still need that. It can rough enough that a hardtail might not be the worst thing. I prefer the look of a step-over frame but I could be persuaded to consider a step-through. I think I'd prefer flat bars over drop bars.
tl;dr: typical fuck around bike for varied "urban terrain", cheaper than Trek FX 1 but similar role.
>Cheaper the better, what brands, years (age), etc to look for?
>Signs of damage/abuse/neglect to be on alert for?
>Descriptions and Information to note in the listing?
>Price I should expect to pay for something decent?
Trek, Giant, Fuji, Cannondale all seem like popular and decent brands for what I'm looking for. Schwinn seemed like a brand with tradition behind them and synonymous with bike to me. But they got bought by the chinese as I understand and they seem more like a Walmart/Target brand now.
Pic related is more road bike but just one of the few I saved on FB.
