You want to do the same as I did for a mate of mine recently.

He wanted a bike- No real idea on what he did want as he started at around £300 for a bike- but I did talk to him about the various bikes around. I do have a good LBS and I know they would sort him out and give him a good deal so a couple of weeks ago I took him to the shop and left him in the hands of the owner- but just kept in the background to make certain he wasn't being done. 4 test rides later and he decided on a mountain bike- for road use.

I was surplus to checking that he was being dealt with properly as the shop did look after him. but that £300 did get raised to an 08 £500 bike only costing £400 and with 10% off the £60 of accessories he bought.

And he will make it as a cyclist. He lives only 5 miles from work and commutes daily. Only problem is that there is a hill on the way to work and home. Yesterday he informed me that he did not have to walk up the hill on the way to work. I'll have to get training with him as it is a mile long hill- 8% one way and 11% the other. And that is only on his 5th day of cycling.