Originally Posted by
jasandalb
I had a cannondale r700 with downtube shifters as my first bike...then bought a Trek 1.2 as my first "serious" bike. Its a great first bike...but you might get a bit tired of it after you get going. for the price point...I bought from my LBS at $850 ... you could go the bikes direct route and get something with better components. I would also say search craigslist and ebay.
I have searched craigslist in my area and there is not much available. I am hesitant about bikes direct, is that recommended for a beginner? It is my understanding that fit is one of the most important things.