Hi sunrunner,

I think you've made a good start coming here and asking your question. There are a lot of different types of riders here who own a lot of different kinds of bikes. I'm sure you'll get a ton of advice, though your questions indicate that you're probably on the right track already.

Before I found the forum, I learned a lot from reading bike magazines. Bicycling, in particular, is full of information. If you can get ahold of one of their annual buyer's guides at the library, you'll get a chance to look at specs on a lot of bikes at once. I also spent some time googling different brands/types of bikes on the internet. That way, you can check out manufacturer's websites and bike reviews.

Another option that you yourself mentioned is to just start hitting as many bike shops as you can find in your area, talk to the folks in the shop, and take as many test rides as you can. When you find "the one", you'll probably know it