Just butting in again.

First, don't forget to get a good seat! (I will NOT make a joke about how much fun it is to ride a bike with a just post sticking up, but I do find the right seat "stimulating")

Shop around at the actual bike shops. There are great sales, and I bought my Specialized Woman's Comfort bike for much less than 500!
(about 375, I think)

The web site is, or was a tad too complicated for a neophyte like me, the salesperson was very helpful, (and VERY cute) and she let me take several different bikes out for trial rides until I picked one.

It has all the high end components that I need, and as a moderately obsesive type about clenaing my things, it still looks like like new several hundred miles later, (my typical ride is 22 miles) in a VERY humid, salty climate.

WW

__________________
"I wondered, am I a lesbian, am I straight, or bisexual? Then I realized that I am just a slut.
So where's MY parade?"

---Margaret Cho