General Cycling Discussion - (Moved) Can I get some advice on a bike?

Hello I really want to get a used road bike that is light and has an extensive drive train to get up hills. I also would like to be able to take some longer rides on it every once in a while.
What problems am I going to face with comfort and how the bike fits? I just don't know how to get this information, I don't want to make a 1000$ mistake.

I am 5'10 I know my bike size is normally 56, but should I consider a smaller or larger size?

I want something that is light and easy to shift. Can I get some advice on how to make this happen? Do all newer Bikes have brifters, how can you tell?
right now I have an old 12 speed and the lever shifters are not ideal for what I want. Is there a better technology I should be looking at for ease of changing gears?

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 :D

To get up the hills, pretty much anything with a triple on the front will do. That could be a mountain bike, hybrid, touring, or road triple. A road triple will tend to be lighter, if that's a big issue (If you're not racing seriously, small differences in weight are not a big deal. The difference in performance based on a pound or two is pretty slim). All those other bikes might end up being more comfy than the road bike. So, it's a trade-off.

Most newer road bikes have brifters. You can tell if you see a small extra lever behind the brake lever. Again, it's a trade-off. They cost more, and sometimes need more maintenance than downtube, bar-end shifters, etc.

Used bikes are like used cars; prices and conditions are all over the place. If you have a friend or relative that knows bikes, that is willing to patiently help you look, you might end up getting a good deal. But, it's not easy.

If I was in your spot, I would try for a touring bile. It is a great all-around choice that can cover most of what you want. It would tend to be more comfy and reliable than a road bike, yet faster than some mountain or hybrids. Good luck.

p.s. Check out Sheldonbrown.com (http://www.sheldonbrown.com), for tons of answers/info.

To get up the hills, pretty much anything with a triple on the front will do. That could be a mountain bike, hybrid, touring, or road triple. A road triple will tend to be lighter, if that's a big issue (If you're not racing seriously, small differences in weight are not a big deal. The difference in performance based on a pound or two is pretty slim). All those other bikes might end up being more comfy than the road bike. So, it's a trade-off.

Most newer road bikes have brifters. You can tell if you see a small extra lever behind the brake lever. Again, it's a trade-off. They cost more, and sometimes need more maintenance than downtube, bar-end shifters, etc.

Used bikes are like used cars; prices and conditions are all over the place. If you have a friend or relative that knows bikes, that is willing to patiently help you look, you might end up getting a good deal. But, it's not easy.

If I was in your spot, I would try for a touring bile. It is a great all-around choice that can cover most of what you want. It would tend to be more comfy and reliable than a road bike, yet faster than some mountain or hybrids. Good luck.

p.s. Check out Sheldonbrown.com (http://www.sheldonbrown.com), for tons of answers/info.

my girlfriends bike is a touring bike, it is ridiculously heavy. Thanks for the responses!