Hey, Im kinda new to all this... need some advice

Check this rugged cross bike out at bikes direct.                                         http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw.htm  

Buy a used bike, you can get a lot more bike for your money. Especially this time of year. I started out with a bike from bikesdirect and it was a good deal for the money but you can do better buying used.

This is going to cause some anger and indignation.

If you're new at this, and you're moving up from a Trek 4300, and you know nothing about bike mechanics, and you might not even know what size you want, and you might want the support of a helpful service department, then see your local shops about recreational cyclocross bikes. This is a growing market segment and many brands are offering some really nice bikes at decent prices.

Or, ask the shop of your choice what they'd charge to build up a BikesDirect bike, and if they'd cast aspersions if you became a regular service customer. BikesDirect has some good deals and they want you as a return customer, but they don't build the bike and they don't do service.

Regarding used bikes, ask the seller if it's OK to bring the bike to a shop for a service estimate before you put down any cash.

That seems like a decent suggestion as well, no anger here! The reason I suggested used is the budget... 750 to 1000 is not much for a new bike. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbobcat 

This is going to cause some anger and indignation.

 

If you're new at this, and you're moving up from a Trek 4300, and you know nothing about bike mechanics, and you might not even know what size you want, and you might want the support of a helpful service department, then see your local shops about recreational cyclocross bikes. This is a growing market segment and many brands are offering some really nice bikes at decent prices.

 

Or, ask the shop of your choice what they'd charge to build up a BikesDirect bike, and if they'd cast aspersions if you became a regular service customer. BikesDirect has some good deals and they want you as a return customer, but they don't build the bike and they don't do service.

 

Regarding used bikes, ask the seller if it's OK to bring the bike to a shop for a service estimate before you put down any cash.

All around good advice.  I will add this:  if a bike shop isn't willing to build up or assemble a bike you ordered elsewhere, you may want to find a different shop.  While I know very well that a larger number of bikes shops have taken financial hits because of the availability of inexpensive bike stuff, I don't believe that those financial hits justify snubbing a customer or gouging said customer on maintenance and/or repair.

For your price range, you can get a pretty nice used bike, so I would also recommend considering a used bike  Likewise, I recommend you visit a few bike shops in your area to see what said shops have to offer, given your price constraints.