inahandbasket

Biked to work!
~7.9 miles, ~40 minutes. Not too shabby! I took it easy as it was the first trip for this commute, and that bike has only had a 2mi shakedown ride since I rebuilt it and I wasn't confident in my handiwork.
Route taken, the astute Bostonians among you will notice the very stupid turn after crossing the longfellow. I shall never again ask a bike courier for recommended directions on the fly without being very specific as to WHICH waterfront industrial park I was headed towards. I'll take some blame for that one.

Need bike advice.
Tommy? others?

I want to get a city bike.
I'm a big guy, over 200lbs, so I need a bike with tires that can take me hopping curbs at speed, and other shenanigans.
I'm thinking either a hybrid, or a mountain bike with slickrock style tires, as a straight roadbike would probably have more blowouts than I'm willing to deal with.
Don't need shocks, although really stiff front shocks on a hardtail might be ok. I've riden suspension bikes on roads before, and those shocks suck a sizable about of your pedal power when you're my size and really pumping.
For god's sake, no grip shifters.

and cheap.
$500 absolute maximum, and I'd prefer to pay less than half of that.
Should I hit up my numerous local bike shops with my list of demands?
Mail-order?
I've heard fleabay has some great deals on bikes if you know what you're looking at...?


In other news, yes, I'm alive.
I've been on somewhat of a hiatus from the intarweb, and haven't really been reading LJ, so if you've tried do solicit my input on anything, I apologize.
feel free to ream me out in the comments.

Now to go call my mother, who also thinks I'm dead in a gutter somewhere.