Any Bike Riders out there?

I look for the seat to be really comfortable or replace it with a gel seat, LOL!  I know the tires are important too, you want the right tire for what you'll be doing with the bike.  My bike is a Jamis mountain bike, my husband has a Trek, they are both good companies.  Sometimes even if you aren't going to buy from them, if you can find an actual bike shop, they can give you some advice as to what you are looking for--I even rode mine outside before I bought it. 

No advice for you as I'm in the market for a new bike as well! But good luck! 

Check craiglist for people selling theirs you can get some good deals - Trek's are popular so you can usually find those on there in assorted sizes.  If you are only riding on trails you don't have to worry about too much technical stuff.  If you have a decent bike shop nearby go in and look at some, may be get fitted and ask for recommendations for the type of riding you do. 

First, go to a local bike shop and test ride some bikes, get to know the different components - trust me, rear derailer is one of the most important components so you shouldn't skimp on that one. The cheap rear derailer can make a ride hell if you ride hills. You want one that will let you shift if you are going up hill - a lot of the cheap ones will not shift if there is pressure on the pedals (like when you're going up a hill) and that's when you need shifting the most.

Also, a bike shop will fit you to the right bike. But don't let them talk you in to a comfort bike. Comfort bikes are where bike shops make the most profit so if they see a newbie woman walking in to the shop, it's like having dollar signs written on your forehead. Test drive mountain bikes (true off road all terrain), cyclecross (a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike - can handle some off road but does not have the heavy grippy tires of a mountain bike), and a road bike. Decide how you'll be spending most of your biking time then pick your bike.

You won't get shocks on a road bike. Road bikes are for touring and/or racing. They are light weight, have slick tires and are aerodynamic. Don't settle for anything less than Shimano 105 components and a carbon fiber fork.

On a mountain bike, you can get rear suspension (back shocks) or full suspension (front and back shocks). Unless you are going to be trick riding or riding in the rocky uneven trails of mountains, don't bother with the expense of full suspension. They are heavier and a lot more expensive. For the price of a low end full suspension, you can get a high end rear suspension. I've had a rear suspension for a long time and I do stunts and tricks no problem. Rear suspension bikes are quicker on the uphill (which helps!)

I don't know a whole lot about cyclecross bikes. I've never ridden one.

Some good bike brands: Trek (kind of pricey due to Lance Armstrong fans), Giant, Cannondale, Specialized.

Another benefit to going to a bike shop is that fit isn't just being able to touch the ground, it's having the handle bars in the right spot, the side in the right spot (up or down and forward or back).

The other thing you'll want is a trip odometer. I love knowing how far I've gone and how fast I was riding :) 

Jewlieee

First, go to a local bike shop and test ride some bikes, get to know the different components - trust me, rear derailer is one of the most important components so you shouldn't skimp on that one. The cheap rear derailer can make a ride hell if you ride hills. You want one that will let you shift if you are going up hill - a lot of the cheap ones will not shift if there is pressure on the pedals (like when you're going up a hill) and that's when you need shifting the most.

Also, a bike shop will fit you to the right bike. But don't let them talk you in to a comfort bike. Comfort bikes are where bike shops make the most profit so if they see a newbie woman walking in to the shop, it's like having dollar signs written on your forehead. Test drive mountain bikes (true off road all terrain), cyclecross (a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike - can handle some off road but does not have the heavy grippy tires of a mountain bike), and a road bike. Decide how you'll be spending most of your biking time then pick your bike.

You won't get shocks on a road bike. Road bikes are for touring and/or racing. They are light weight, have slick tires and are aerodynamic. Don't settle for anything less than Shimano 105 components and a carbon fiber fork.

On a mountain bike, you can get rear suspension (back shocks) or full suspension (front and back shocks). Unless you are going to be trick riding or riding in the rocky uneven trails of mountains, don't bother with the expense of full suspension. They are heavier and a lot more expensive. For the price of a low end full suspension, you can get a high end rear suspension. I've had a rear suspension for a long time and I do stunts and tricks no problem. Rear suspension bikes are quicker on the uphill (which helps!)

I don't know a whole lot about cyclecross bikes. I've never ridden one.

Some good bike brands: Trek (kind of pricey due to Lance Armstrong fans), Giant, Cannondale, Specialized.

Another benefit to going to a bike shop is that fit isn't just being able to touch the ground, it's having the handle bars in the right spot, the side in the right spot (up or down and forward or back).

The other thing you'll want is a trip odometer. I love knowing how far I've gone and how fast I was riding :) 

^ What she said.  :)

I have a mountain bike and BF has a cross-bike.  His cross bike is faster on roads than my bike, but mine is better if we go off trail.  So far we've been doing mostly on-road stuff and I'm thinking I should get a set of either cross tires or road tires to make the on road stuff easier.  But I've had my bike since 1995, so a long time.  I've used it a lot over the years, though for several didn't use it at all. 

 Thanks, I plan on doing pretty much all trail riding. Does having suspensions make a difference at all? DH said it doesn't, but the bike I have now doesn't have any and I can see suspensions giving a little bit of a difference, especially in the back.

Not sure where a bike shop is around here, I'll have to look for one. 

Well people road mountain bikes before suspensions were invented so you don't *need* it. But it does make going over downed logs and rocks a little less teeth chattering.