Forum Bicyclists: Basics Please...

[Xoulrath]

I am wanting to get into riding (a bicycle obviously ) and I need some basic information.

My primary reason for wanting to ride is to reduce the strain on my knees while still maintaining an aerobic workout. Apparently my weight, active past, and age (34) are really starting to catch up to me. My knees are actually still fine, but I figure why take the chance? My father had bad knees when he was in his twenty's and I have his bone structure so I figure I'll play it safe.

A secondary reason for riding is to get my wife more active. She likes the idea of working out, but just doesn't do it. Some people don't, it's cool with me. But when I mentioned I was thinking about getting a bike to a friend who might be interested in riding with me last night, she seemed to think riding was a good idea. She likes lower impact exercise like walking, where she doesn't feel like she is actually exercising. So I feel this may be a great opportunity to lower the stress on my knees, while simultaneously getting her into a workout regimen. She is in very good health now, but I want to make sure she stays that way.

I was looking at bikes as long ago as three or four months. I was in some big-box sporting goods store, waiting on my car tires to be rotated. Only reason I was there, really. For some reason, I thought about how much I enjoyed riding my psuedo-BMX when I was a kid. I was looking at the bikes, thinking about buying one, and after looking at the prices - upwards of $300 for some very standard bikes, I thought why not look into the more expensive brands on the market and see what they are about.

I am thinking street-oriented as a lot of our planned riding will be on a bike trail, or in a neighborhood close to our house, or on roads that surround our house with light traffic and 25 mph limits (I don't personally think bikes belong on roads but it is legal here and the speeds are low, so I can see myself hitting up a mile or two of road).

My wife is thinking more off-road, as we do have some great woods that can easily be turned into trails. In fact, we have already made a small trail for my daughter's dirt bike.

Any basic information about brands and the major differences between bike styles is appreciated.

[Alex]

Have you seen this thread yet? It's the most mongo bicycling thread I've seen here; Sailariel owns a bike repair shop.

[Apex]

Wow, I totally forgot about that thread. Hahaa