I started out on a mountain bike: GT Karakorum because a boyfriend rode. Later I got into road riding. I went to every store in a 60 mile radius and rode every different brand I could. I finally settled on a Bianchi Veloce. A few years later, as a gift to myself for finishing the Death Ride, I bought a Sampson Silverton. I still have that bike and a Sampson Diablo set up as a tri bike. I must have spent a total of 5 or 6 hours on the phone with Eric Sampson each time I bought a bike from him. They're expensive, but they fit perfectly and they're beautiful bikes.

That being said, the key to a bike is the fit, not the price. Each brand is set up just a little differently. Try as many as you can.

My roommate is 5'2". It took a while to find one for her. Now she rides a Jamis. I can highly recommend them as good bikes for the money.