please help on choosing a bike

[Antaresia]

Ah ha! If you don't know what you're looking at, get a used bike from a local bike shop! A lot of them sell used bikes. It's what I did, and I know I got way more for my money than if I had bought a walmart special : / the mechanics would never sell a bike that wasn't safe, but look up reviews for the shop before you go just to check them out. Either way, you don't really have anything to loose by dropping by and taking a few test rides (it did take me a while to find my perfect used bike, I went to 4 different bike shops before cupids arrow hit me).

Plus, vintage steel bikes are sooooo stylish!

[Owlie]

Yes, if you can find a shop that sells used bikes (none of mine do, unfortunately), see what you can find there. I like Giant in that they tend to be good bang-for-buck.

With your height and inseam (crotch-to-floor, or jeans? The former is the one we need!), I'd actually suggest considering unisex bikes. (If I'm wrong, someone correct me.) You'll have a wider range to choose from, at the very least. I don't know if women's MTBs and hybrids are made with the same geometry 'tweaks' to that road bikes are, or it's just a designation for a pink and flowery design with a more sloped top tube. (I'm pretty sure that with Giant, it's the latter. So if you like the pink or you need that very sloped top tube, go for that.) See what feels best to you. Sadly, I'm not up on my componentry for mountain/hybrids, so hopefully someone else will chime in with that.

BUT--as far as I know, most manufacturers will offer the same frame with a variety of component levels. The more expensive, the better the components. It makes to upgrade (eventually) to the highest component level that the company offers with that frame. Financially speaking, not so much, but it will probably cost less than a new bike! Provided that the bike is of good quality and fits you well, upgrading wheels and parts as they wear out makes sense.

Sorry to have written a novel. Welcome to TE and enjoy those test rides!

[ultraviolet]

With your budget and relative inexperience with bikes, I'm going to suggest going the REI route.

WHen I wanted to buy my first bike in 15+ years, many well-meaning cycling friends told me to look at Craigslist, especially because I live in a pretty bike-saturated area. So, I did. I'm sure I saw some bikes that would have been great for me...the problem was, I had no idea what I was looking at. And even though I could send the ads to my friends to get some explanation, when it came time to actually check out the bikes in person and try them out, I was lost.

In the end, I stretched my budget enough to get me into an entry-level new road bike from an LBS. That was the last bike I bought entirely "new," but if I had it to do over again, I would go the same route. I was able to buy a bike with some confidence that there was a shop that would be there for me if something went wrong, or to just explain things to me when I didn't understand them.

There are those that would say that REI is only a scant step above a big box-store when it comes to bikes. And sure, it doesn't have the charm of an LBS, but the bikes are of decent quality and what you get for your money is generally a pretty good value. Top that off with in-store mechanics and a great return policy, and it's hard to see how one could go wrong letting that be their first stop back into the world of bikes.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against used bikes. I love them, in fact. I spend way too much time perusing (and buying from) Craigslist. Used bikes are great...if you 1) know what you're shopping for/looking at, 2) already have an idea of what you need with regards to sizing, and 3) have a little mechanical ability. It's pretty easy to pick up a bike from Craigslist and end up spending an extra $100+ on it at a bike shop fixing little things and tweaking other things to get it set up just right for you. If you can't do that kind of work for yourself (or have a friend willing to help you do it), a "great deal" from Craigslist can easily turn into not such a great deal.

Good luck!

[Biciclista]

Salts, your REI selections and the LBS selections sound great! they are all good brands..

[KatzPajamas]

How is bike shopping going Salts? Whatever you do, take your time...oh, yeah~and don't forget the helmet! Excited to see what you find!

[Sky King]

Welcome and good luck. I too strongly encourage LBS or REI, REI carries good brands and the people working there are going to me more knowledgeable than Walmart. Many LBS will not work on Walmart type bikes, poorly constructed and not worth the attempt to fix if something goes wrong. For sizing don't hesitate to do some website research, This link is to the Bike Hermits guide to sizing.

[Salts]

hi all

thanks again, for all the advice. I stopped by my lbs this weekend, and i loved the giants.. Going to go by rei this week, at lunch, the store is near where i work, which is about 40 miles from the house.. but i really liked the giants. so if i dont find anything i like better at rei. probably going to go with buying a giant at the end of the month...

i can see that bikes are very addictive.. i want to get them all

also can see in my future i will have a room in my house for my bikes, and my biking gear, after looking at all the used bikes also. i would love to get a used one to "fix up" after i learn a little bit more about bikes..

thanks again everyone !!!