I have an electra townie 8 (has nexus 8 gearing, built in lights, and a basket up front ) and it has the step through frame. This was the first bike I bought about 18 months ago. Similar enough to the Trek, I think, in that it has relaxed geometry and makes a great casual commuter. (Yours has the mountain gearing and shocks, so a comfortable ride, if not the fastest.)

See mine here:http://www.electrabike.com/townie/ and look under "commuter" then see the Townie 8 - only diff is mine is burgundy. I have a basket on it, which I love (I really do not like regular panniers - although basket panniers are great!)

It is great for tootling about town and shorter commutes - and it is a really fun bike to ride. It got me off my butt and back in the saddle after 10 years, and because of the "flat foot" geometry, I could put my foot on the ground while sitting in the saddle. I had some balance issues when I first got back into riding, so this was key for me, at the time.

I also have a Surly Long Haul trucker with trekking bars on it and a brooks saddle - a lovely bike for longer longer rides. And after riding the townie, I can really FLY on this bike! I am not likely to do races, although casual group rides would be fun, eventually. I mostly commute and ride for fun with my DH.

I would say that the Trek your BF chose is a lovely first bike to get you riding, especially if you are not completely at ease on a bike. As for the comfort of soft seats, that is a very personal choice. I still love the soft seat on my townie, and have done longer rides on it feeling just fine! Not every cyclist is going to get into group rides, centuries etc. You have to give yourself time to figure out what your riding style is.

So I would try this bike out for the month, give yourself a chance with it - I got totally obsessed with trying the buy the "perfect bike" that I would "grow into" and I think it can be a mistake to get too caught up in doing that.

When you first start riding, you really don't know what your needs/wants will be. I thought it was wimpy of me to want the townie, but when I tried a road bike back then, it felt all wrong and not safe. Now I love having the Surly LHT, but it would not have been the right first bike for me.

I'n not saying that the Trek your BF bought is absolutely the best first bike for you - but I do think that it might be a good start. If after a week of riding it quite a bit, you really don't feel comfortable, or you really want a more exciting ride, than I would absolutely explore other options.

Bottom line: your first bike should, above all, be a fun bike that you really WANT to ride, a bike that will get you out there. It doesn't have to be anything more than that. It should NOT be scary, intimidating, "too much" or too expensive - this is because for sure, no matter what you buy, you'll eventually want something different/something else too!

Mitra