i'm 5'2" and looking for a bike

[HillSlugger]

With a typical road bike you won't be able to put your feet on the ground while your bottom is still on the seat. If that's important to you, then you need to look for bikes with what's called "feet forward" geometry, typically found in a cruiser bike. They have the seat set lower, but further back.

[farrellcollie]

I am 5'2 and have a 47 road bike and a 15 hybrid that I commute on. I commuted on the hybrid for years and rode with a group of friends who all had hybrids or mountain bikes with road tires - we are all fairly evenly matched in our ability to ride and would go out weekly for 10-15 mile rides. I then got a new job that is not 9-5 and I wanted join another group of friends (gym teachers with excess energy) who all had road bikes and rode further and faster - so I got the road bike. The point of this is - if you are going to be riding with friends who have road bikes - you will probably be struggling to keep up with them if you get a hybrid or comfort bike. On the other hand - getting the bike you are comfortable riding is probably still the best plan.