hello everyone, my name is Robert. I am looking for a bike for this summer and I don't know which way to go. I have a budget for around $500.00 I know it's not too high but I thought this should get me a pretty decent bike to start off with. I have a few friends who ride. One says Trek and one says Cannondale. I say I don't have $2000 to blow on a bike LIKE you guys did. So I don't want to pay $200 FOR THE BIKE AND $300 FOR THE BRAND NAME, YA KNOW? I am open to all different bike brands, I just want what's best for me. I am roughly 6 ft - 6 ft 1" with a 33" inside seam of my leg. I just bought a house that's 3 blocks from a huge bike trail. 99% paved trail. I hear a lot about getting a carbon fiber fork for ride comfort. this trail is very long. Just as a starter ride I rented a bike and went 40 miles with my girlfriend. we went about 17 miles to a few towns over and ate lunch and drove back. my complaint was cramps and a little uncomfortable for the long ride. I had to stop a few times each way to stretch. This is most likely normal but then again I don't know anything about Bicycles. I was hoping to get some advice on what I should buy. I would rather not put the bike together but I am willing to do so if needed. I have full faith I can perform the task but WHAT I don't want to have IS missing pieces to the bike and I know I would be fully unaware of this. I appreciate any help like I said I am a novice at best and would really like to buy a bike soon. Thank you for reading, looking forward to your suggestions

Go look at this one

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/5598503709.html

welcome to the forums...lots of good used bikes available on craigslist, depending on your area... if you are a total newb as you stated, maybe take one of your experienced friends along to help you check out the bikes and check on fit...
there are lots of good bike brands..I have 4 bikes at the moment, 4 different brands...i go by how the bike feels, and how it rides, not the decal on the frame.