Thanks again for all the replies guys.

SlimRider, your input is really great. I'm so glad you don't think I'm stupid lol, and I am eerily amazed that you could easily tell by my forum ramblings that I am a kid with confidence issues lol.

So yeah, I suppose I can keep BikesDirect.com as an option. After all, my original plan was to buy off eBay, based off a recommendation by a buddy of mine who is obsessed with cycling. His whole thing is looking and waiting for awesome deals on eBay and Craigslist. I'll probably run by some of the bicycles I'm considering when I meet up with him tomorrow. But I still feel more comfortable buying from a local bike shop or REI or EMS

Slim, I definitely feel like we are thinking on the same wavelength. It was definitely my plan in the future to try and meet a bunch of cyclists and maybe find the most knowledgeable mechanics and latch on to them and pick their brains for a bit. I basically do that sort of thing with all my hobbies/obsessions and occupations, it'll probably happen with cycling in the future as well.

Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to the co-op tonight as a meeting came up and I had to run some errands. Yeah I ran out of TIME. But I will probably see if I have some time this week to stop by one of the classes at their Brooklyn location. Perhaps I will also check out some nearby LBS's in that area.