In Need of a Good Bike

[JThiessen]

My advice would be to get yourself educated at some bike shops on other brands also, and watch your Craigslist for a good used one. You can get a lot more bike for the dollar that way.

[tedo]

Do not get a full suspension for commuting. It will bob when standing or pedaling under pressure (except the Maestro linkage from Giant), and will tire you out faster. I have 6 bikes: 4 mountain, 2 commuting), so I can for sure help you pick a decent one. $300 doesn't get you a lot these days. I would get a nice STEEL hardtail with a rigid fork. They are strong and steel is soft to absorb road vibrations. Salsa makes a nice geared commuter bike right now called the cassarol I believe. I believe it's around $800 last I checked (which is the new cheap for "quality bikes". I am sure someone in NYC is selling a cheap steel commuter... haha.

Think of a bike like an RC.
There are the radio shack's and Target rc's, and then there are the Mugens, Losis, xrays, etc... Especially if you are putting 12+ miles a day on it. Get a good bike.