Hiya, snp! Welcome! If you mosey on over to the "getting to know you" thread in the open topic forum, you'll get the full-on welcome wagon greeting.

As for the biking bf, it sounds like he's eager and knowledgeable, but a little over your head, yeah? Explain to him in words of very few syllables that you can't wait to get into sharing rides with him, but you're not ready for the technical details. In the mean time, though, he can introduce you to the local bike shop that I'm *sure* he's a regular at .

... and then let him go ogle some new toys while the bike shop folks have you sit on a whole lot of different bikes. There's simply no way to know what bike is going to work for you -- it's a women's frame for some, and not for others, so don't go in with any preconceived notions about that. Your proportions matter more than your height in this, although you'll find that you've got a larger range of choices than us short women (for whom some lines just don't exist). The bf can give you a knowledgeable second opinion, and might open the door to a not-so-enlightened shop dude taking you more seriously, but sitting on a lot of different bikes is the only way you'll find the one.