Evan92

I probably will.

Evan92

What about helmets and pedals?

AndrewP

Here is a cyclo-cross bike in your price range.
https://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-SPT-Details.html

Evan92

Well today I found out that I have an opportunity to get more money so the Trek XO1 might be in my reach in a few months.

JanMM

My Novara Big Buzz hates being called a Comfort Bike!

N_C

You want a true comfort bike, try a recumbent. Nothing is more comfortable then a recumbent. No pressure on your hands, arms, back or neck. And it is easire to look up & see what is around you. Ask your LBS about them. See what they have in stock, test ride as many as you can.

N_C

Always wear a helmet while riding. It will not improve your cycling skills or make you a better cyclist but it will protect your head in the event of an accident & you hit your head.

As far as pedals, that is more of a personal & comfort choice. I may want to start out with platform pedals with to straps & either regular cross trainers or even mtn bike style cycling shoes, just leave the rubber cover in place where you put the cleat. After you get used to them or see if you will like them then you may want to add clipless pedals. There is a style Shimano makes that is clipless on one side & platform on the other. They are not very expensive. If you go with bike shoes try on several differant pair & try both shoes on with the socks you will be wearing when you ride. Differant brands & styles of shoes will fit your feet a lot more differant then regular running or cross trainers.

Most bike shops will give a discount on accessories with the purchase of a new bike. Like helmets, shoes, clipless pedals, gloves, water bottles, cages, etc.

spinnaker

Retro-Grouch was commenting that he would lose cool points for a hybrid. Just what do you think a recumbent will do? Talk about nerd alert! Do you really want the poor guy to die a virgin (assuming he is one otherwise never get luck again)?

spinnaker

Not a bad looking bike. Here are some reviews.

Evan92

I will ALWAYS wear a helmet from now on because last August I took a spill on my bike and hit my face and had to have stitches and broke my hand. Doctor said I was lucky not to have a concussion.

CB HI

Ride all the bikes you can at more than one bike shop. Then post again, and get some more feedback. Then buy the bicycle that you really like.

My commuter is a modified mountain bike with front shocks. Commute route has lots of bad pot holes, so it works for me.

My back up commuter and recreational road bike is a standard road bike.

My beater, around town, bike is a single speed drop bar bike made to look ugly for anti-theft purposes.

As you grow older, if you still cycle after getting your drivers license, you will likely buy more bikes to fit each variation of riding. For now, whatever type of cycle you enjoy riding will work fine.

Evan92

Well I forgot about these other trails that I wouldn't mind riding and those have crushed limestone and the other trails are off-road. We went to the LBS yesterday and I was recommended a Giant Yukon by the salesperson. It seemed like a nice bike. Pretty light too.

Little Darwin

When you test ride a bike with drop bars test in the dropped position a little, but really spend the time on the hoods...

A non-competitive rider spends most of their riding time on the hoods and flats. You can do 90% of your riding on the hoods, and only go to the drops when yuou are fighting a head wind. Then after riding a while if you find you like being in the drops more, then they're there... if you go flat bar, you don't have the option.

That said, I wouldn't worry about what other people think, but I would also add my vote to avoid the shock... I went rigid last year on my Sedona DX... I like the handling much better.

Also, depending on your age, and how much you still have to grow, I would choose a bike on the large end of what "fits" so that you don't out grow it so soon.

Little Darwin

A Yukon won't be very good on the road. The Yukon is designed for off road riding... If you are really looking to do road rides of more than a few miles it is an incredibly bad choice.

Did you tell the salesperson what you have told us here? If so, find another salesperson.

If you want to do mostly road riding and a little off roading, you really should go with something like the Sedona or Cypress (in the Giant line-up, or similar bikes in other vendors' line-ups)

I do 40+ miles on crushed limestone with my Sedona with slicks, and metric centuries on the road.

I don't do any true mountain biking, so that may color my opinions, but if you want to do long road rides, they will only seem long on a Yukon.

Evan92

I told him what I told people here but I also remembered the off road trails so I decided maybe a mountain bike would be better.