Originally Posted by
cyclist2000
With your budget I would read and learn what a good fit is and then get a used bike.
I hear that advice often and I disagree. I think someone just getting serious with cycling needs the support of a LBS and a new bike that if something goes wrong (under warranty), it doesn't cost anything to get fixed and isn't a deterrent to continuing cycling.
For a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 50th bike, used makes sense as long as that person wants to deal with the potential issues in buying a used bike.