
I have a Marin and am a big fan of it. But not that model. I agree to finding something on the cheaper end or, maybe even better: see if you can go test drive these bikes! See what you like before you buy. Make sure you have the seat height and everything set correctly for you. And remember that changing seats and handlebars is very easy if you don’t like the feel/shape/position. Changing shifters and drivetrain components takes a lot more work.

I dream of moving somewhere where I don’t need a car permanently. I used to live in a city where it was impossible to ride to a grocery store on a sidewalk or a bike lane and to cross the surrounding highways is literally impossible (unless you’re sprinting across 10 lanes) without a car.