Bob,

Until you decide what type of bike you want, which is determined by the type of riding you want to do ... have you considered purchasing a used bicycle to start out? There are some pretty good bargains out there, and you can even try a variety of bikes pretty inexpensively.

Which ever way you go, the most important thing is to go to a shop where you feel they take the level of interest in you and your riding to where you are comfortable dealing with them on a long-term relationship basis. Too many shops just want to sell you a bike, then could care less what happens afterward. The best shops will take all the time needed to examine your needs, won't try to oversell you, and will be more than wiling to do what it takes to keep you as a customer for as long as you can physically ride. The shop is much more important than the brand of bike you buy. Just like an auto mechanic, once you find one you can trust ... he will have your business forever.