Another newb!

[redrhodie]

Thanks for the information. I dropped by my bike shop for a quick ride this afternoon. They let me go on the Women's 15" Trek FX 7.3. He said that was too small for me. I ended up on the Men's 17" Trek FX 7.3. He said that looked like a much better fit. I was surprised.

Anyway, I'm going by tomorrow for a longer ride through the park area that they have nearby. I'm getting really excited about this!

What are the basics that I need in addition to the bike? Helmet, special padded pants, water bottle, glasses?

Yes, you may be better suited to a men's frame. My first bike was a women's specific model, and it turns out that wasn't necessary for me. I now ride men's frames.

I recently went bike shopping with a friend, and was happy to see that when she loved the fit of a particular bike that was out of her price-range, the shop was able to set up a lower priced model to fit the same. They even switched some of the parts to women's specific for her at no charge (including the saddle). So, she ended up with exactly what she wanted in her price range.

In addition to gloves and helmet, you may want a stiff-soled shoe to ride in even if you're not going clipless. You may already have something suitable for toe clips. I rode in sneakers at first, which was not the best choice.

[indigoiis]

You may want to think about a cross or touring bike. They generally are set up with a little wider tire that can handle rutty or even dirt roads. If you do a century ride on all paved roads, you can swap out the tire for slicks. I have an old Giant bike that looks and handles like a road bike, but has a more stretched out geometry and wider tires with a little nub to them. That bike can fly on road or trail.