I’ll give you a BIFL answer that’s not super heavy on performance. I’ll assume your primary goal is commuting or some light exercise.

1. Stay away from carbon fibre. Stick to aluminium or better yet, steel.
2. Choose a bike that has a fanbase. For example Bromptons or Surlys are expensive for what they are but you can maintain them for a lifetime.
3. Stay away from the cheapest bikes. If you’re going for a low budget bike try to stick with a mainstream reputed bike brand like Giant.
4. A belt drive is more hassle free if you have the budget.

Yeah, instead we buy gym memberships and toil away at the gym. Or die of a heart attack by age 45. Progress!

Sheesh.

Land of the free and poster child of the free market, ladies and gentlemen.

And bring in corporate republicans. If you can learn one thing from the Trump era it’s that he loved corporate tax breaks and corporate welfare.