Here is her question to my hubby:

I need to buy a street bike so I can start training for Cycle Oregon. The Dr. I work with has done it a few times now and said he would train me, however my mountain bike won't due. I don't want anything fancy, since I'm not addicted to it yet like you are. Any ideas on where I should look, or what I should look for?

His answer:

Well to be honest a street bike is a little harder to buy than a mountain bike. Fit of a Road (street) bike is really important. I have to recommend you getting fit by someone before buying the bike so you will know which kind of bike to buy. All road bikes are different sizes to each brand just like womens clothing. Normally a bike fit will cost $100 from someone that knows what they are dong. I hesitate to use a bike shop because they will usually try and fit you to a bike they sell in your shop. However a bike shop will not charge you usually for the fit if you buy one of there bikes. They will apply the fit cost to the bike you buy from them.
Now here is the bad new. road bikes can be expensive. For a decent road bike they usually start at $1000 and up new. However there are some road bikes out there in the $700 price range that are soso in quality.

If you are not in a hurry to get a frame you could get fit somewhere with your needed bike measurements and then search craiglist and ebay for people that are selling there old bikes. That usually is the best way to get a good deal on a bike of good quality.

As for entry level bikes I can recommend these brands, Trek, Gunnar, Bianchi,
For the crankset you want a Double compact crank. Don't get a triple.

You don't want a touring bike. For the kind of training the Dr. is talking about is called a road bike.

Apparently we need to find her a place to get fit...or a really reliable bike shop that won't rip her off!!!