I'm sure for a few reasons, just unsure of WHAT I want, now why I want it!

I know the pros and cons, have rode a friends before, have always sat in one gear on road bikes anyway, and am doing it to force myself into stronger cardio while learning something new. I'm super set on doing this, have the money and the time and want to have it done before christmas so I can get myself a trainer and practice riding to get my endurance up during the cold and rainy winter months.

Thanks for the what to look for/what not to look for Schwinn, I'll definitely be posting some more craigslist finds (already posted some flop ones already in the cl thread a few days ago actually). That really helped narrow down my search. Can somebody throw together a short list of popular names of brands that would fit that category of those bikes?

Sirenfade that was also some great advice and your path seems a lot like what mine is going to be. I am so ready to have a bike to call my own and have done my own work too.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2659608625.html

Too bad that thing is ugly/terrible and the guy has no knowledge of it, its also not my size, and it also doesn't look like any leader frame I've seen LOL
Also, I could be wrong but bent fork much????