Pre-newbie looking for guidance!

[Trek420]

I'm thinking that I'll probably go for something cheap with the intention of learning for the next bike in a couple of years.

Get the best frame you can afford. You may fall in love with the bike and upgrade the heck out of it as you wear parts out with miles of happy riding.

My namesake Trek420 originally cost about $400.00, but the time I was done with it I would have needed a Trek 5200 or so to get equal parts.