General Cycling Discussion - How-to for purchasing new bike...

I don't know *anything* about what to look for when purchasing a bike, so I was wondering if someone could please help me. I don't know how to ride a bike, but I want to buy one so that I can learn. This seems to be a problem because I can't really test drive a bike. I can, however, sit on it and see if it feels comfortable or if my feet touch the ground.

I really just want something that I could ride around the campus/city. I'd like for it to not be very expensive, and I don't mind buying one that's second hand. I think 26" is the standard height, right?
Some people tell me that bikes from regular stores (like, Target, etc.) aren't very good. They have "normal" people bikes, instead of "biker" bikes. I'm not sure what that means. Or that they're not the same as the Schwinn bikes you'd find in a bike shop (even though they say Schwinn). Schwinn is really the only bike brand I know...

I found a bike on craigslist in my area that's a Schwinn. It's less than $200 (which is about how much I wanted to spend), and the lady said that everything is in great condition. It's 13 years old though--is it really bad to get a bike that old? I like it because it's retro looking, and it's a Schwinn, but I'm afraid I'm going to make a bad purchase, since I don't know very much about bikes. I wanted to buy second hand instead of from a bike store, because they seem much less expensive. Anyway, if anyone could please help with suggestions, I'd appreciate it!!!

*Note: I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I wasn't sure where to post it!!!

Maybe a link to the bike you are looking at would help. The Craigslist in my area seems to have good used bikes from $100-$200 pretty regularly, but you need to be ready to act fast. You can get an entry level hybrid or Cruiser bike from a bike store for about $250 though. If you don't know anything at all, that may be a better option, because you know the bike will be ready to ride when you pick it up.
If you don't know how to ride, you may want to look up The Historian, he is a regular poster in the Cydes forum and learned to ride as an adult less than 2 years ago and has had some great adventures....anyway he may have some advice for you about learning to ride.

I don't know how to ride a bike, but I want to buy one so that I can learn.

I am curious, how old are you? I would start out on an upright mountain bike or hybrid. They are less twitchy in their control compared to road bikes. Who is going to coach/teach you to ride? You have been missing out not knowing how to ride. I'd go with a good used bike that rides and shifts well. The problem is that you will not be able to test ride it. Go cheap on your first bike because it may be layed down a few times while you learn. Hopefully once you learn and become a good rider that bike will be back up on craigslist after you found a better bike.