For your first bike, focus on comfort (how long do you plan to ride on average?) and whether you want skinny (road) or fat (dirt) tires, or to have the best of both terrains on a hybrid bike. A good, clean, reliable bike shop (check Yelp for suggestions) will help you make these decisions and will also tweak the bike to fit you well. Lastly consider your budget. Cost is always a factor, but if you put it first, you may end up with an ill-fitting bike that doesn’t meet your functionality needs. Source: Jackie Baker, a Liv/Giant marketing manager in California
