My wife and I started with 2 Schwinn Frontiers, $500.00 for both after racks, bottles, locks etc.. What ever gets you riding is a great start, Good for you. For the money I found this set to be a good deal. Front light can run blink or solid, back light has a few modes. I run the back light solid and a PB Superflash blinking.
http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Quad...ef=pd_sim_sg_2