>>1454378>>1454393I'm not saying he should go full retard and buy a GMC Denali (he could, but that's a 57cm bike, too small for OP, and honestly too little bike for the money if you buy online), just that something like this would be much more than enough:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/wellington3-xv.htm (bad fender clearance on this particular one tho)
And one could go way lower depending on requirements or what one considers acceptable performance, nothing wrong with, say a freewheel wheelset on a commuter. Customizing the finishing kit for the sake of fit is something you do on ANY bike, and the brake pads/tires suggestion was a big "maybe" that isn't really limited to cheap bikes.
Frankly as a commuter I'd pick at most some entry level CX bike, ruggedness, ease of maintenance, and ease of replacement are priorities on something you intend to ride every single day, especially if the weather or road conditions concern you.
