I buy a new (cheap) bike every year. I have found that a "girls" 26" with a rigid frame to be the best. Rigid frame to accommodate a heavy basket frame, 26" because it fits well on the bus rack. Girls so I don't need to do a high kick to get over that previously mentioned rear cargo basket. I usually find a bike like this at about $50-85. I figure the use I get in a year equals the normal life time of these bikes, and they do rust out. I tried "Rust free" and more expensive bikes, but they fell apart just as fast. I actually had a crank rust until it broke internally on an expensive bike in under a year. And, Yes, I do take care of them, liberal use of lithium grease and a wipe down every morning.