Good bike for the price?

Question
I am new into bicycling and am looking for a good entry level bike without the high sticker price. I'm trying to find something around $300 as I am still in college and don't have the funds for something better. What brand or bike would you recommend?

Answer
Dear Matt,

Thanks for your e-mail, I don't know exactly the prices from the US.
But if you want a nice quality you can consider brands like Giant, Merida, Trek and Specialized.
They offer also nice bike for entry/starters.
What you also can consider to look for a secondhand bike in a local bikestore.
In a bikestore they can measure you and give you advice for the size of the bike.
When you buy on such bikestore a secondhand you have often the warranty and support.
And you can become a nice bike for a honest pricelevel, and with better parts of entrybikes.
If you have the idea to ride a lot, I will advice you Shimano's Deore. With good maintenance it will last long enough. A much better choice is LX, but much more expensive.

In case you'll need more info, just ask me again.

Mike