Recreational & Family - Choosing a Bicycle??

I've been reading all over the forum and I still cant figure out what I should even be looking for in a nice bike.
My Budget is small but I'm very interested in getting something nice, the Bike I have now will do for now but, I want something that I can trust & I'm comfortable with. I'm saving now, and expect to get something nice in the next 2-4months.
I'm 5'2", 165lbs...overweight I know one of the MANY reasons why I am so wanting to start riding everywhere I can.
I've been doing 3miles a day the last few weeks, not the longest ride but its a start. I'm hoping to work up to Even Longer trips with my son in his new trailer! I also would love to have something that could handle just a little trail riding. Maybe a few times a year go to our local Bike Trails.
I'm going to say I need something around a 20-21inch top tube, thats what My BMX bikes always were so something in this range.

I have NO Idea what I need to look for, AT ALL!
HELP!!! sorry for all the questions.

Thanks!!! =)

What's your price range?

If you're planning on towing a trailer and would like to do some trail riding as well I might suggest a hybrid bike. Check bikes like the Kona Dew, Specialized Sirrus, Trek FX series, or something like the Giant FCR or Jamis Coda. They're all good quality bikes that strike a nice balance of performance, reliability and versatility.

Since you don't know what type or size bike you want, check out a few bike shops in your area. They can tell you what size(s) you'll need (varies with style/model/brand) and you can get an idea of what's out there and the prices.

Simply tell the salesperson about wanting to pull a trailer, how many miles you'll be riding, how often, your budget, etc., and they'll take it from there.
Buy from the shop that gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling and offers the brand(s) you're comfortable with.

It's great that you already started, and even with the short mileage you should start to notice a difference.

I'll bet that you already feel better physically, and as you start to add more miles, you will also start seeing more changes.

Once you get up to 20 to 30 miles (not as hard as youthink) you will see weight just falling off.

But, remember, you will start to build muscle before you lose weight, and since muscle weighs more than fat, you might not lose weight, even as you r clothes start to get looser.

Then , things will change, as you tone that new muscle, and watch the fat go away.

I'm not done yet, but, I've lost almost 30 pounds so far this summer, and it keeps falling off. I started at 210#, and am on the 180 side of 185 for over a week (insert BIG smilie here)

I eat anything I want, and just make sure that I ride almost every day. Currently, I'm up to 42 miles daily, only shorter when I have to do something else.

My bad back is better able to cope without carrying all that extra weight around, (I have not had a back episode all summer, which is very unusual) and my bad knee is much more mobile.

Keep up the good work - the payoffs are astronomical........

p.s. my clothes are really getting to be to big, but I ain't buying new ones until I lose most all of the fat. Another 10 or 15 pounds ought to do it.

ilmooz - I haven't set a certain price range yet. I'm going to say up to $500ish. My Plan is to look for something Used...Look on Ebay, Craigslist places like this. I've even thought about buying a nice frame and going from there. I already know how to take a bike apart properly and put it back together. If I had any trouble my husband is pretty much a bicycle mechanic lol..
Like I said my bike is doing great for me now It would be great to go from "it" to something I really like, with nice parts on it! Thanks for the bike options I'm going to take a look at them in just a minute!

RonH - lol unfortunately we only have 1 bike shop in town, And at that it is a very tiny bike shop but, hes really nice! so it works lol


Wanderer - 42miles per day WOW! I'm really looking forward to losing some weight, and I just love to ride anyway. So much easier on you then Running, something else I've always loved to do but, after having my son its just hard to wanna do anything. But, with this I can do both, I have a jogging stroller but it just wasn't for me.
Thats GREAT you've lost almost 30!!! :)
I think my goal for right now is to get up to 10miles per day, baby steps is best with anything LOL..

I was in a similar situation as you a few months ago. We had a baby last year and wanted to start pulling her around in a trailer this summer. My wife and I both had bikes already but, they were not sooted to pulling a trailer. I went to the LBS near me and told them what I wanted to do, my budget and riding experience. They recommended I go with something with good brakes, good quality and light weight since I would be trailering.

I test rode several bikes that day. The one I finally chose was a Cannondale Road Warrior. It is light weight, stops on a dime and is light weight. It was a little more than I wanted to spend when I first started looking but, I am pulling around the most precious thing in my life I wanted to make sure everything was just right. We also bought a Burly d'Lite trailer.

Since then I have put many miles on my new bike, all with trailer attached. We started out just like you doing a few miles a day, and are now up to ten miles or more a day (with trailer). Good luck with whatever you choose, and stay safe!