Well I'm new to all this biking stuff, and I'm looking to spend ~$600 for a bike. I've done some research on different types of bikes, and the problem I'm having is there are not a lot of bike shops around where I live in Germany so I can't get the feel of one that I like. So I'm most likely to get one online. Would it be better for me to build one from parts or just go ahead and roll the dice on a whole one? If a whole bike, any suggestions?

i suggest you look for all your possible options..maybe search for the best bikes online and take note of their features.. then try to look one in your country, or if the parts are available in your country, why not have it built.. and that's really customized.. but if you have money to spend, why not go for it! just ensure the of the quality of the shipping service.