< So I was wondering what the mechanism is called that will attach to my bike >
It's called a windtrainer, or sometimes just a trainer. I have a Cateye Cyclosimulator. Pricey (350 on sale), but for me it was worth it. Factors to consider include construction quallity, stability, noise...
Don't bother with the big bucks, fancy bikes. My first bike (as an adult) was a 300 dollar hunk of steel that i rode into the ground and beat the crap out of. I loved every minute of it.
My advice is: 1) follow the above poster's advice and wait a bit so that you'll have more sale options...