Hi,
I am new to riding. My goal is to do 2 or 3 duathlons this summer. Can someone provide me with some advise as to how to find a good bike for this purpose? I am hoping to get some money back when I do my income taxes, so for now, I'll continue to train using my touring bike. I don't think that heavy bike will be suitable tho' for duathlons...or am I assuming incorrectly?

After reading these boards, I'm having nightmares about choosing the correct seat for me. Could someone give me a "heart to heart", frank explanation of what exactly to be aware of when purchasing a bike?

How do I know which bike shop will be the most helpful? I have a choice of 2 shops in my town. One sells Giant bikes, the other Shimano. Any preferences between those two bikes among you women?

BTW...I'm 41, 5'3", and weigh about 150 lbs. (Hoping to trim off 10 lbs before my first Duathlon in June)

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!