What kind of bike should I get?

A Road bike.

Preferably a high quality one, one from a bike shop, not walmart. There are many great suggestions of specific bikes out there, but it depends on your size, price range, etc.

I don't have a car so I put a ton of miles on my bike. I bought a Trekk bike about 5 years ago and I love it. I've never had to bring it into a bike shop in the 5 years I've owned it. A recreational Trekk will cost about $400 at most bike stores. Just like a car, it is better to buy high quality rather then have to spend money on constant repairs. Depending on your budget I would go with Trekk. If you have a lower budget Schwinn probably would be my next suggestion. They're not bad, just a lower quality and if your not planning on using it daily it should still last 2-3 years. Don't get a bike from target or walamrt if you can help it. The price may be attractive but you would be lucky to get 1 year out of it.

This is what I ride and highly recommend. I got over 600 miles (960 km) since mid March. I am confident this bike will entice you to hit the road. It has a bit of a classic look. Really good technology. Will not become obsolete anytime soon. If you go one steep back on that page, you can see and compare more bikes and figure out a bit about components, and materials, and prices.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/ven...

Join a cycling club.