Lots of possibilities. Go to a couple local bike shops and see what they
have. You may want to browse the websites of a couple major manufacturers just to see what types they have. Trek has a good site (trekbikes dot com). So many possibilities depending on what type of riding you think you'll be doing. Don't buy something with a suspension fork unless you need it. Reason being, for the same price point, you can get something with better (more reliable) drivetrain components if you skip the suspension.
Fitness bike - This looks like your classic, flat handlebar bike. The top bar is longer, so you do get in more of a "racing" position than some "city" bikes where you sit more straight up. I would look at Trek's FX series for this. They have quite a range of price points from around $300 to $1800. This is still mainly a hard surface bike. This is a pretty good category for a lot of folks that want to go out for exercise, but you won't be able to keep up with your buddies on their road bikes.
Road bike - skinny tires, built for speed on the road. Best if you want to keep up with your roadie friends.
Touring - looks like a road bike, but heavier frame, and has provisions for mounting racks. Bigger tires too, so less prone to flats, but a little slower than a true road bike.
Gravel bike - also looks like a road bike, but has bigger, knobbier tires for riding on gravel.
Mountain bike - has suspension fork, and sometimes a rear suspension too. For real off-road riding. If you're thinking about these, see if your local bike shop rents mountain bikes, so you can take something out on the trail for a sample ride. Honestly, being 50+, I'd seriously think about a full-suspension bike if you go mountain biking. Your back will really thank you for it.
Be sure to budget for some of the extras you may need. A pump. Some good bike shorts. A good helmet
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In response to this post by HokieDiver)
Posted: 07/26/2018 at 11:43PM