Cycling

[Big D]

I still regularly ride the Raleigh Santa Cruz I got back in 1996 for around $400. No suspension, no disc brakes - but a decent bike. 18 gears, though the front gear-changing bracket thing wore through last year, so I'm stuck with just the top 6 gears now.[q=Omecle]I was looking at around 800-1,000AUD[/q]That seems quite a lot if you'll mainly be doing road riding. Sure you'd get a great bike for that price, but you could get something adequate for quite a lot less. But then, quality usually comes at a price, and in the end it's up to you.

[Quindiana Jones]

I cycle, on roads. Yes, that means I wear sexy Lycra shorts. I love cycling. Works the legs, and tones everything else due to bumpy roads and stuff. Bloody awesome.

I just roaded up my old Raleigh mountain bike. Changed the knobbly tires to slick ones (saves about 75% energy used I believe haha), cleaned up all the gear shifts and stuff. Set up a cadometer/speedometer, put on mudguards, and away!

So, really the brand has little to do with it if you're not using it for sport or competition purposes. If it's just fitness, you can just get a lil' cheapo one. Cost me about £100 total to get all my new stuff. Chances are it's less than that. Second-hand mountain bike maybe? That'll be nice and cheap.

[Rostum]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it a lot. I will check out a few stores (except the one near me, because they were a bunch of cocky bastards).