[Laneco]

Set your price low and buy used. Don't spend more than $200, Craigslist is your friend, but always take a look at used inventory in a bike shop. Get a hybrid or mountain bike that is the right size for you. Take it to a bike shop for a tune up, BUY A GOOD SEAT. Not kidding here, the money is well spent. More people quit cycling because of the atrocious cheap azzed seats that come stock on most bikes. Don't buy a tractor seat, they chafe like sandpaper, buy a fairly wide men's comfort seat and cycling shorts. The mountain bike shorts are baggy, with strategic padding and don't look goofy. You could walk into a store and not feel nekkid.

Plan on being into the newly tuned bike with a fresh seat and a decent pair of shorts for $350 maybe $400 absolute tops.

Should be good enough to let you enjoy it and cheap enough to dump without losing any money if you decide you hate it. On the other hand, if you LOVE cycling after you try it, again, you'll lose no money on it and be able to sell it/upgrade to a better bike.

A fair warning, my friend, cycling is as slippery of a slope as modifying a 911!!! Keep it cheap until you're sure you love it or you'll never believe how far it is to the bottom of the slope - LOL!

angela