New rider here...I need advice.

[Skierchickie]

Hee hee - identifying scoundrels! I like that!

[Zen]

What's your budget?

[Owlie]

I'm giving myself to $800-900, depending on how much of my stipend gets eaten up by taxes this summer.

[Owlie]

I might be getting myself a Defy 3. I'm waiting until I get back to Cleveland to buy, as the bike market around here seems to be monopolized by a store that charges prices way above MSRP.

[LoriO]

Fuji beat me too it but for me my Road ID is a must have when I ride!

[Owlie]

I had a bad experience with a pushy salesman at the LBS, and I'm still on the fence between the FCR 3 and the Defy 3. Of course, he insisted on putting me on a women-specific bike. That worked out well.
I'm still trying to decide between the two. I've tried out a friend's Defy and rather liked it. It's a question of buying the more expensive,faster bike while I have cash, so I won't feel that I need to upgrade when I'm living on a grad student grant, or going with the cheaper bike now that I may have to upgrade if I decide I like riding, but won't be such a financial drain if I stop riding for whatever reason.

Decisions, decisions.

Also, I have a glove question: How closely are they supposed to fit?

[LoriO]

I have the FCR3w and love it!