Thanks for your advice everyone. I wouldn't even consider 29 inches. I was more split between 26 and 24, since I was comfortable with both of them. What's the main difference between cheap x mart kind of bikes and 400 bucks bike shop bikes? Do they break down a lot faster, or are they heavier and clunkier? When they do break down is it more of a slow "hm, I might need to get this fixed" kind of thing, or a catastrophic chain ripping, frame twisting, flying into oncoming traffic kind of thing?