I agree that you might want to look for a used bike. However, a beginner might not know what to look for in terms of condition. In that case, you might want to go to a local bike shop that sells used bikes. Many cities have such bike shops, and some cities have bicycle coops that sell only used bikes. If you buy it from a bike ship, it is more likely to have been thoroughly looked over and repaired than if you buy it off of Craigs List.