what bike to buy?

[dinvinci]

I have just started riding a bike to work. It is less than half a mile, only six blocks or so, and fairly flat. I could easily walk it anyway but it goes a lot faster riding than walking, and I like coming home for lunch. I also want to start riding to other places nearby when I can. Trying to stop driving my car. We live downtown in a smallish town so almost anyplace I would want to go to is within 2-3 miles at the max. I also want to put a child seat on the back of the bike so I can take my 2-year-old places with me.

I was looking at Townies online and they seem really cool. Test-drove one and loved it. But I'm very confused about the range of speeds and prices. Also saw a post on another thread where someone said Townies are no good for hills. I don't think where I live is very hilly but this person also seemed to be referring to the 3-speed Townie. If you got the 7-speed or 21-speed would hills be less problematic?

Should I be considering a different bike altogether? I really know nothing about bikes and it is so overwhelming. I just want to get a bike that will get me around town without costing a fortune or being likely to break down a lot.

FWIW I am currently riding a borrowed bike--a 21-speed road bike. It's called a Mariner something-or-other, it's some fancy folding bike for people who live on boats. I like it fine for now but I have to give it back at some point. The only thing I don't like about it is how I lean way forward and have all this weight on my hands when I'm riding. That's what I really liked that was different about the Townie--sitting upright. I also may be trying to get pregnant in the near future and it seems like one could keep riding comfortably for much longer in the pregnancy if you could sit upright instead of leaning over.

[mimitabby]

I have just started riding a bike to work. It is less than half a mile, only six blocks or so, and fairly flat. I could easily walk it anyway but it goes a lot faster riding than walking, and I like coming home for lunch. I also want to start riding to other places nearby when I can. Trying to stop driving my car. We live downtown in a smallish town so almost anyplace I would want to go to is within 2-3 miles at the max. I also want to put a child seat on the back of the bike so I can take my 2-year-old places with me.

I was looking at Townies online and they seem really cool. Test-drove one and loved it. But I'm very confused about the range of speeds and prices. Also saw a post on another thread where someone said Townies are no good for hills. I don't think where I live is very hilly but this person also seemed to be referring to the 3-speed Townie. If you got the 7-speed or 21-speed would hills be less problematic?

Should I be considering a different bike altogether? I really know nothing about bikes and it is so overwhelming. I just want to get a bike that will get me around town without costing a fortune or being likely to break down a lot.

FWIW I am currently riding a borrowed bike--a 21-speed road bike. It's called a Mariner something-or-other, it's some fancy folding bike for people who live on boats. I like it fine for now but I have to give it back at some point. The only thing I don't like about it is how I lean way forward and have all this weight on my hands when I'm riding. That's what I really liked that was different about the Townie--sitting upright. I also may be trying to get pregnant in the near future and it seems like one could keep riding comfortably for much longer in the pregnancy if you could sit upright instead of leaning over.

of course for riding the bike to work, since it's so close, anything would work.. but about that roadbike. It sounds like it doesn't quite fit you. I have paid someone to "fit me" to the last 3 bikes i've ridden. It makes a big difference.
Switching to a comfort bike might not be the best way to go.. a better entry level bike might be a hybrid. They are light; they have lots of gears and they are upright. the comfort bikes tend to be very heavy.. that's why they are not recommended for up hills.

congrats for getting on a bike!