I am interested in getting a road bike. It is going to be used just for riding on trails to keep me in shape, not gonna be doing any triathlons with it or anything. My question is are there any good brands l should look for? types of frame? single speed or one with gears? l really do not know what to look for.

Thank you.

l assume u r looking for a ''skinny tire'' roadbike with 27'' (700C) size wheels (i.e. ur typical ''10 speed''.although they have many more speeds now).
There r a lot of good brands; at the lower pricepoints Fuji, GT, K2, Giant, & Trek come to mind. Look for Shimano or SRAM brand shifting. An aluminum frame (carbon if u spend more), with a carbon fiber fork. It will have 2 speeds up front & 9-10 in the back. Stay away from single speed bikes if u r new to cycling. This is a good time to buy as the '09s r coming in & the '08s r on fire sale.

Example: http://performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=26411&subcategory_ID=3040

At some point upgrade to clipless pedals & the special shoes u need to clip into them.they increase pedalling efficientcy a lot.but that is for later.

You may also want to consider a mountain bike (same general specs, but it will have a fork with a shock absorber, 26'' knobby tires, & 3 gears in the front). It will be a bit slower, but is more comfortable & durable (fewer flats).

Start with a list of places where want to ride & how you're going to ride it. Then go to a bike shop & talk with them, explaining what u want to do. They will go down the list of bikes they have that might work for you.
From what you've told us, it sounds like u might like a hybrid / comfort bike. These r great bikes for a lot of people, & generally not too expensive. Great ride position, easy shifting, great brakes.
The list of bike brands previously listed is a great place to start.
Even more important than a brand is fit. If a bike fits u well, it will be a lot more fun to ride. This is good because u will keep riding it & not let it collect dust.
Last, do not forget to check out helmets. They r really cheap insurance. Going to an emergency room once can quickly be very expensive. You only have one head & concussions suck.

One thing I've come to learn over time is that the actual *brand* of the bicycle is secondary; do not be consumed with finding the best *brand*. While some models in certain brands may offer a bit more bang for the buck, the MSRP is typically reflective of the frame material & the component selection.

How much road riding will u be doing? How would u describe these *trails* u intend to ride? What is ur present physical condition & flexibility? What have u been riding recently, if at all? Your bike choice depends on to these questions.

If my riding was to be on a mix of asphalt & smooth dirt/gravel trails & paths, l would not feel comfortable buying a modern road bike. While l would appreciate the speed & agility on pavement, the quick handling & the inability to mount anything larger than a 700X25 tire would be disadvantageous. My pick would be a cyclocross bike, sometimes called a *cross* bike. These r very similar to road (race) bikes, but the geometry of the frame, the wider bars, & the ability to use wider tires would be much more stable & comfortable when riding off the pavement but would still allow similar performance to a road bike on pavement. Cyclocross bikes strike a balance of lightweight & durability, since they're designed to be ridden/raced off road. That would be my choice, given my physical condition, riding history, & the type of riding l enjoy.

A flat bar road bike or *fitness bike* would be another possibility, if u prefer a straight bar over a drop bar. They typically have less aggressive geometry than a road or cross bike but can still accept wider tires. The wider, straight handlebar gives a bit more control over gravel or other loose surfaces, but they're a bit limiting in hand positions for long rides. Long is relative, though; some people can not ride flat bars more than a couple miles, while others r perfectly comfortable for 50+ miles.

Hybrids & comfort bikes would be fine for short rides at low speeds. But l do not think that is what you're after, so l wo not even go there.

Your LBS will help u with ur decision. Take ur time. Ride a few that interest you, then sleep on it. Go back & check out the one or two that really interest you, then think about it some more. Do not make the mistake of buying the wrong bike.

Also, bike models r usually offered in several different grades within the same line, with each bike offering a different quality/performance level of componentry & priced accordingly. You do not need the highest level components to still have a great bike, but stay away from the low level components if u expect ur bike to see regular usage. Mid-range components will perform fine; just keep up on a simple bike maintenance schedule.

bsa mach is the best.

Read Road Bike Action magazine or check velonews.com and bicycling.com!