Hi all - am new to this board. Basically I'm looking at starting to cycle in and out of work a few times a week (probably once a week each way to begin with). Its a 65km journey, on good enough roads. There are very little cycle paths (it's Ireland those things are few and far between here!). I won't be carrying much with me, can change etc in work. Maybe a small back-pack just.

I used to cycle when I was younger, nothing serious, but was always quite handy on a bike. I'm 31 now and have very good endurance, I compete in ultra-endurance swims, and cycle a bit in the gym. I find 60 mins on an excercise bike at high intensity do-able. Now, before you all point it out (I would if I were you) I completely get that this is different and that I am talking about a pretty serious cycle! But if I work a bit more in the gym in the next few months and then get myself out on the bike in the evenings / weekends I can build up to it. Don't think I'll ever get to the stage of cycling in and out everyday (700kms a week is a wee bit too much, I'd disappear!), but think doing it once or twice a week at the start could be great for my fitness, and also a new challenge!

My question is in relation to what sort of bike to get? I'm quite confused as to which type would be best - race bike, race sport, cruiser, hybrid, MTB etc. As I'll only be trying it I can't spend much. Prob < $400 / €300 worth. I know this is very little, I have seen bikes costing 1000s on the net, but if this was the budget and this was the aim, and I could buy new or 2nd hand - which type would you go for?