This is my first post. I'll do an intro later. I was referred to this Site from another chat group I belong to. Based on initial responses from there, I think the answer is "Comfort Bike" and I'm also swayed to go to a bicycle specialty shop. But I'd appreciate any further insight. I'm 59 and my wife is 60 years old. Here's my original question:

Here's the scoop. My wife is blessed with good genes - longevity in both sides of her family, has all of the right numbers (e.g., she's thin,low cholesterol, etc), her normal blood pressure is low, and so on. For the first time in years she went cycling with me yesterday...on her very old 3-speed Raleigh.
I'm physically active - run, swim, cycle, and my wife is the opposite. But after yesterday she will go cycling with me. We'll have to go slow, and she can't/won't go too far, even if she builds up her conditioning. I suspect that at most she would do a 10-mile round trip.
Any suggestions as to type/brand of bike? Should I just buy a cheapo at Sports Authority, or spend the presumed extra $$ at one of my local bike shops?