advise from more experienced cyclists please on what bike to buy

bigalee

Hi All,
im just looking for a bit of advice. Im looking to start cycling as a hobby and to keep fit. im 30 yr old female, 5ft4 and am wanting to buy a fairly good bike under the bike to work scheme. Il spend the full 1000 as i want to get something il be fairly hapy with longer term rather than buying something il want to upgrade in a few months. Any advice on where to start, what would be a fairly good bike for mainly road cycling. also i have an old back injury, would i be right in saying the racer style bikes put more pressure on your lower back or does that make any sense. also do you think i would be best spending the full 1000 euro on the bikalso for travelling do the folding bikes make sense or do they compromise on quality e in the bike shop and buying the lights etc online maybe secondhand or amazon etc, or buying one of the packages in the shop ie helmet bike lights etc included in one price. any mistakes i should avoid from your past experiences.
any feedback would be very gratefull accepted.
thanks
im in connaught area by the way, any advice on a good bik shop in the area very welcome also.

funnights74

You should pick up a pretty decent bike for the budget you have, here is a list/map of Bike shops in your area that should help you out.
They will be well used to cycle to work enquiries. They will also help you out with lights, safety gear etc

http://www.biketowork.ie/bike-shops/map/#G

Mention the back injury and they will help you with an appropiate type of bike, measurements etc, probably a hybrid from what you have said.

bigalee

Thanks funnights for that, will go visit one of those shops so and discuss what you said, think i best do it as soon as poss big rumours cycle to work scheme is closing next budget.... thanks again for your advise