Is this it????

[elk]

http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-Bianchi-Eros-Frame-and-Fork-49-cm_W0QQitemZ120179130914QQihZ002QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bianchi Eros frame fork stem size 49... should I?????

Am I totally out of control or what!!???

[mimitabby]

are you prepared to build a bike?
if not, there will be more...
it seems like a fine frame though

[elk]

what would be a good offer...?

[mimitabby]

I paid $700 for an entire Bianchi Veloce 2002 bike(on ebay). I wouldn't go very high for just the frame. gee, wheels alone are going to be a couple hundred dollars.

On the other hand, if it's easier for you to buy the bike in pieces, go for it.
But I'll bet a bike is going to appear your size soon, all ready to ride.

[nic840]

This listing might help you put things in a little perspective...too bad it isn't your size or I would go look at it for you! Good luck on your search!

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/462703011.html

[Eden]

Just FYI - If I'm not mistaken the Eros Donna is a WSD bike - and given your long torso proportions it may be difficult to fit you on a WSD - they are generally designed for those of us who are short torso/longer legs.

[KnottedYet]

Hate to say it, I'd wait and buy a bike you can ride BEFORE you buy. You are still considering different geometries and figuring out what you like/want.

Ride first. Buy later.:D

[Xrayted]

Uh, don't know if this would work for you... http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/467178514.html

[Xrayted]

or this? http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/bik/466852865.html

I'm not enabling at all. :D

[elk]

you guys are so sweet!!! thank you !!

I have calmed down..:p I just need to go foot shopping (butt shopping)

I did find a shop that has the Surly CC and the Salsa...AND:eek: :eek: they are a rivendell dealer. Super nice on the phone! I'm going to try and get up there tommorrow. (Revolver Bikes)

I could be in deep....!!! But you know...I am just so freakin thrilled to have discovered excercise that I LOVE...and that's worth throwing support at...

[sandra]

I'm enjoying sitting back watching you Elk. You have been bit by the exact same bug that I have. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with the disease. :D

Edited to add: here's the part I hate. Just when you think you have THE PERFECT BIKE....along comes a better oner! Drives me insane.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandra,
The key is this: Happiness is loving what you have. (that goes for both material and other things in life)
Remember- there will ALWAYS be millions of bikes better than yours. And there will always be millions of bikes worse than yours. One could buy a bike a week and still not be happy. It's all in your "frame of mind" (pun intended). :)

Just find a bike that fits you right and is right for the task you want it to do....and then put your heart and soul into making that bike truly wonderful and LOVE that particular bike for its own special uniqueness.
This system still might require several bikes, depending on the different riding needs you have (speed, errand/fun, long distance, mountain, etc.).

Now, if you are perfectly happy with buying bike after bike and continually looking for something better or a new thrill (NOT saying this is you, Sandra), then there is no "problem". But if one is distressed by repeatedly seeking to buy another bike, then one might look inwards to find the solution. :cool: :p

[sandra]

Yep, it's that old saying "happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want."

Thanks Lisa for the reminder.

[mimitabby]

Lisa there are NOT MILLIONS of bikes better than mine. Maybe hundreds, but NOT millions. :cool:

[sandra]

sigh. she's not talking about YOURS Mimi, she's talking about MINE. :p

[elk]

for me it is an evolution of discovery. I love my hybrid....but it didn't take too long for me to realize what the limitations of the bike are. (slow and heavy and not so lean on hills.) I also have really strong body memories of what a steel road bike was like to ride...a craving as it were....

I think there was no way to know until I jumped in and started having cycling experiences...And sometimes it takes a while for things to sift out....

[sandra]

You are right where I was last July when I decided that my faithful old Giant Cypress DX was too heavy and slow. I needed a road bike. I made that purchase, loved it and sold my hybrid. A few months later I missed the hybrid. Then I purchases the mixte. Welcome to mixte fever!

Is it possible to have ONE bike that does everything you want? For me, I don't think so, or at least I don't know what it would be.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Is it possible to have ONE bike that does everything you want?

Depends on how many different things you want! ;)

If you live in a flat place and don't want to ride long distances or on rough trails, and just want to ride around town doing errands... then one bike can do all that.
If you live in a hilly area, don't care about speed, and like to ride rough fire roads and wooded mountainous trails, then you can have one bike that does it all for you.
If you only want to go super fast on only paved roads, then one bike could do it all for you.

For myself- I only need to go medium fast, do occasional long distance riding in comfort, and be able to go over rough gravel roads as well. My bike does all that for me.
My next bike will do the same things....because that's just the kind of riding i do!

:cool:

[mimitabby]

If you live in the city and don't have occasion to ride on trails much, a road bike is just great. put fenders, a rear rack and it and a comfy seat on it and you've got a bike for all purposes.

But it didn't stop me from wanting to have a Mixte bike!

[sandra]

I think that one won't work for me. When I ride the rails to trails I want a bike that is a little lighter with skinny tires so that I can go faster and go to the next town and back.

When I'm riding in my neighborhood, I ride all the way around the lake. The road bike is too lightweight because I find myself mostly coasting. Also, across the dam and spillway there is a short area of grass. The skinny tires of the road bike are dangerous.

I once tried the road bike on an old country road where dirt and sand had washed across. Need wider tires for that too!

The mixte would come closest if I had to choose only one. I have mixte fever!

[mimitabby]

what happened to the Mixte you bought on ebay?

I didn't understand what you meant by
"I ride all the way around the lake. The road bike is too lightweight because I find myself mostly coasting."

to solve this problem, you just have to ride FASTER!

[sandra]

Blossom from ebay is right here! I love that bike!!

Hard to explain, but it's just not a good area for riding fast. It's perfect for the mixte!

How is your mixte? A good fit?

[mimitabby]

the Mixte is a good fit but I haven't been riding it.
Right out the door I have a 6% grade hill, and to get to the main street (either up or down) I have 12% grades, so for me to have fun riding a new bike, it takes a little bit of getting used to... (and i haven't been riding so much with the shorter days and less pleasant weather)
There's no way i'm taking that Mixte out on a group ride where i have to ride hard for ... 20 miles

[rij73]

the Mixte is a good fit but I haven't been riding it.
Right out the door I have a 6% grade hill, and to get to the main street (either up or down) I have 12% grades

Whoa... :eek: I'm not sure I would have gotten into biking if that were the case for me. I'm still not loving hills...