The problem with this sticky is that we aren't approaching it from the "beginner's mind."

I'll think about the bike I got a decade ago. I bought it from a coworker. She told me it was a Trek. And a nice bike. And it was a women's model. Or maybe it just had a sloping top tube. The year? Who knows. I know absolutely zero else about the bike. Hybrid, road bike, mountain bike? No clue. How to tell the difference? No idea. It is just a bike.

All those questions are pretty intimidating.

Then what will happen is people will reply well you are riding the city streets and you should get wide road tires for potholes. You don't need suspension. Check your riding position, do you have a threaded or threadless stem? Get a cycle computer so you can track your cadences. Don't spin. Don't mash.

And the poor newbie's eyes have glazed over and they think boy this bike stuff is complicated nevermind.