I'm brand new to the whole scene, but if the best advice I got is to:
Test ride. test ride. test ride.
I was a little nervous about doing test rides. I didn't even think they'd want anyone who's not some big spender and a serious racer trying out a bike. I found out that mostly everyone is really laid back and helpful. There's tons of info on this website as well. I could say that Bike A is better than Bike B, but when you ride Bike B, you might disagree. All of the replies are going to be opinionated. So get out there and check all the bikes out. Try all different brands and see what you like.
I hope you find the perfect bike for YOU
