Help needed with buying bike!!

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Hi all! I'm new to this site and need some help with deciding what bike to purchase. I already bought a Marin San Anselmo www.marinbikes.com (http://www.marinbikes.com/) a couple of days ago but after reading through info on the net, think I may have made the wrong decision! I'm wanting a bike mainly for commuting, but thought I may like to do some mountain biking and touring (neither of which I've done before). The Marin cost me $880 and I don't want to spend more than this. Some people have said it's best to get two bikes if you want to go mountain biking, but I thought if you're touring, you'd want to mountain bike as well. I know road bikes don't have suspension and are a rough ride, which aren't very comfortable long distance. They also have a rather bent over position, which I've heard Isn't as comfortable long distance. Mountain bikes can be good for commuting, touring and mountain biking, but aren't as good on the road. I've also heard getting a mountain bike 2nd hand or renting one is a good idea. Please help!! I'm so confused!! By the way, I'm a 5"2 female.

Hey, I purchased a giant cypress for touring in 2003. I then started organized road rides and purchased a trek 1000C. I am 5'1. The trek book said it fit 28 stand over. It was to big. I now have a 2100WSD. I you are interested in road riding the Comfort bikes are good because the have the adjustable handlebar stem. You can sit upright. The 1000C now comes in a smaller size and wsd. Check it out.

Hi all! I'm new to this site and need some help with deciding what bike to purchase. I already bought a Marin San Anselmo www.marinbikes.com (http://www.marinbikes.com/) a couple of days ago but after reading through info on the net, think I may have made the wrong decision! I'm wanting a bike mainly for commuting, but thought I may like to do some mountain biking and touring (neither of which I've done before). The Marin cost me $880 and I don't want to spend more than this. Some people have said it's best to get two bikes if you want to go mountain biking, but I thought if you're touring, you'd want to mountain bike as well. I know road bikes don't have suspension and are a rough ride, which aren't very comfortable long distance. They also have a rather bent over position, which I've heard Isn't as comfortable long distance. Mountain bikes can be good for commuting, touring and mountain biking, but aren't as good on the road. I've also heard getting a mountain bike 2nd hand or renting one is a good idea. Please help!! I'm so confused!! By the way, I'm a 5"2 female.

It looks like the bike has 700C rims on it, which aren't necessarily ideal for mountain biking, but you can certainly get some cyclocross knobbies and put on there and use it off road. The geometry is going to be a little bit different on a full-blooded mountain bike (as it will a tourer) but from what I can tell you've got the perfect commuter bike. For loaded touring I prefer a drop-bar setup.

Leaning over farther, unless you have a bad back, is much more comfortable than not. It's taken me some getting used to (transitioning from my touring bike to a high-performance road bike) but the difference is unbelievable. I've ridden my dad's hybrid and the flat handlebars and not leaning over as far are detrimental to my comfort and efficiency.