Hi, folks. So, I’m thinking of buying a bike - I haven’t ridden much since high school, and I miss it. However, I’m in DC (well, Arlington), and I really don’t want to die a horrible, squishy death at the hands of some Georgetown freshman driving a car worth more than the GDP of Somalia. This would be bad.
What I’d like to do is get a good, non-“beginner” bike that would actually be fun to ride - I don’t see the point in buying a crappy “entry-level” bike that’s a slog to ride, and will just end up gathering dust. Specifically, I want something that’s well-suited for city commuting, but can also handle most of the dirt trails in the area.
If anyone could recommend specific bikes, I’d appreciate it - but if someone could help me figure out what I should be looking for in a bike, that might be more useful. What features are good for the kind of riding I’m looking to do, and which are just gimmicks? What sort of brakes/gearing/etc should I look for? (Alternatively, how can I best figure out what works for me?)
What bike shops in the area are good places to buy a bike? That is, places that have a knowledgeable staff, sell a good variety of bikes, and won’t just try and sell me the most expensive rig in the store if I ask for advice.
Are there any good local groups that teach “how not to get squished by traffic” classes?