This will be my first year in the Ride to Conquer Cancer and yes, I am a newbie. I am looking for a bit of advice on a good starter bike that I can train on from now until next year and also use for the event. Any suggestions? I would like to keep the cost to $1,000 or less for the initial purchase if thats possible.
Most people will recommend staying away from mountain bikes for this type of riding. With that budget you still have a lot of options, from a performance hybrid to an entry level road bike. The main difference being the hybrid will have a "flat" handle bar, the road bike will have "drop" bars. The gear and brake levers styles differ based on the type of handle bar. Hybrids typically come with wider tires, which can translate into a more comfortable ride.
Rather than list a bunch of bikes and models, if you post your location I'm sure other readers will be able to recommend some bike shops in your area.
I am not really sure which size would be best, I am 5'11". Do you know what type of bike he is selling and how much? Would he be able to email me some pictures? adamtut87@gmail.com