Bicycle recommendation needed

well, if you arent' planning on doing any PRO riding.. i'd stick to the dept stores against severums advice.. why pay a grand for something you can get 100, for and do the same thing, especially when you're buying kids' bikes that will have to replace in couple years do them getting to big for them.
toys R us has a decent selection, wal-mart can be useable. make sure you take it down, and make sure it is comfortable for you.
i havent' used trigger shifters. but the twist, on my current sure beats the heck out of the old levers. don't even have to move hand to adjust gears.