First, welcome back to the fold. There is a pretty vibrant community of cyclists around the State. You don't say where in GA you are, but when you get to that point, there are a few around here who might be able to help you find a group to ride with, especially at the beginning. For example, in the Roswell/Alpharetta area, there is a Harry's Not in a Hurry ride that embraces slower paces and assisting new to riding cyclists that have gone beyond just the '1-2 mile casual ride' phase.

At your size, I would imagine you would fit into the 'Medium' category, but that is going vary pretty wildly based upon the bike style you settle on.

At her size, it is going to be very dependent upon her own comfort, and again will vary based upon bike type

Based upon your noted disposition of cycling, I would personally suggest you go with something that is geared more towards road comfort, but can handle light trails. For this usage, I am not actually a huge fan of suspension bikes, as it is just another part to service and fail, one that provides benefit for a fairly low percentage of the riding.

Craigslist is always a good start, but depending upon your area, there are shops that specialize in used bikes around the state.



Side pull, or if you get lucky in the budget, discs.

Flat. I wouldn't seriously look at anything else for your needs.

Seats are highly feel oriented, what you want is not what your SO will want. What is on the bike is unlikely to make either of you happy for any extended time so I wouldn't put too much worry into what is on the bike you are buying. You'll probably replace it in fairly short order. My daughter loves the Forte Countour XFC Womens saddle on her hybrid. It is not my cup of tea though (the men's version)

Shocks on the front are nice for softening the ride through your hands and shoulders, but can also present a set of challenges for the inexperienced rider. Situations where you go from flat through a small valley and then uphill, like say entering a multi use path from a roadway through a curb cut, can compress the front suspension and cause the wheel to stutter. Panic ensues and rider lands on the ground afraid to get back in the saddle. As for rear suspension, for the right purposes it is great. For the types of riding you are proposing, it is both more than you need, and inflates your budget.

Items not on your list: shifters, tires, pedals, etc. Shifters are a mixed bag, some people like thumb shifters, others like grips. I suggest thumbs, I think they are easier for most to wrap their heads around. Tires on the other hand should be dictated by the type of riding. For road riding, you don't want a knobby dirt tire. For light trails, a lightly knobbed tire is good, but will make the road ride a little rougher.


So with all of that said, what would *I* look for in your shoes? Probably a middle of the line Road/Fitness hybrid. 700cc wheels, with flat handlebars, at least a double front chainring, preferably a triple.


Fuji Absolute, Diamondback Insight, Trek FX, Cannondale Quick to name a few. Almost all of these support a wide enough wheel /brake opening that you can run them with true road tires or go up to a cyclocross tire that does great on the trails. I say all of this as someone that uses a Fuji Absolute kitted out with all season road tires, racks, bags and lights as my commuter, and I love it, but the seat was the first thing to be replaced.