Need help

Go to your local bike shop, explain your situation, and ask their opinion. They should be able to show you a decent bike, and measure a good fit for you. You might want to ride a couple of different brands. If they are too expensive there, then go to an oshman's or [censored]'s or some other related chain. Don't expect to get the same service and knowledge base at the chain though.

Good luck.

crdean1 said:

Go to your local bike shop, explain your situation, and ask their opinion. They should be able to show you a decent bike, and measure a good fit for you. You might want to ride a couple of different brands. If they are too expensive there, then go to an oshman's or [censored]'s or some other related chain. Don't expect to get the same service and knowledge base at the chain though.

Good luck.

This is perfect advice.... Go to a chain. Sometimes it is okay to sacrfice service and selection in order to get your foot in the door (or on the pedals in this case).

Spend a little bit now and while you ride the generic bike save a little each week for a name brand that catches your eye.

I currently ride a $150 mtb until I can get a road bike. And I know that my first road bike wont be a fancy expensive bike... in fact I plan on buying a used bike as cheap as possible and slowly rebuilding it... then I gain more knowledge of the bike as well as the satisfaction of building a bike.

With a previous neck injury, you may want to consider a hybrid. This is part road bike, part mountain bike. I wasn't sure how my body was going to react to cycling. I get a pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder once in awhile and I have had 70% of my spine fused together when I had spinal surgery 30 years ago. Which also resulted with a compressed disk in my lower back. Yes! I'm a mess.
I bought a "Gary Fisher Zebrano S". This bike is the size of most road bikes with 700 X 42 tires. And has shocks in the front forks and a shock in the seat post. I spent a little over $400 for that bike. That was last year.
The good news is my body handled cycling so well that this year I bought a nice road bike. I bought a 2006 Trek Pilot 2.1 spa. This bike has a little more cushion than most, but I need it.
crdean1 makes some good points, try several bikes and more than one type. Be sure the bike fits your needs. Try them out, and like buying a car....never buy one on the spot. Think about the bike you like for a day or two before you buy. And research the ones you like on-line and make an educated decision. Also search through the other threads. There is a lot of good advise out there. And good like, trying to dicide which bike you like the most is a lot of fun🙂

Russ B