Buy a different bike?

[amy]

Ok- Here is what I have.... a Novarro mountain bike with front suspension (not a huge fan) and disc brakes (love them), slicks for street riding and clipless pedals. I bought it to be a comfortable commuter but I spend most of my time on the bike path avoiding traffic and therefore not commuting with it.

What I think I'd like... lighter bike, focus on long distance (think eventually a century, touring sounds cool but who knows)... keeping up with my road biker friends. I'm not interested in crazy-super-speed-racer but willing to play with speed confidence.

If you were a 6 foot tall woman with a 34 inch inseam and the above desires... what would you buy? I'd be interested in hearing "anything is possible" ideas and "keep it under $1000" ideas.

[KnottedYet]

I'd be looking at 3 different (all steel) bikes:
Kona Sutra
Surly Cross Check
Surly Long Haul Trucker

Mind you, I have a bias toward steel frames. (I have steel Kona, Surly, and Waterford) The Surly LHT and the 2008 Kona Sutra will go over your $1,000 budget by a couple hundred.

Others to consider:
Jamis Aurora (under $1,000)
Soma Double Cross (frame only)
Gunnar (frame only)

[Eden]

If you love the disc brakes, but want more of a road style bike you may want to look into a cyclocross bike or a Kona Sutra touring bike (but this bike is a bit pricey). Both of these options will be a bit heavier than racing bike, but a bit more upright and comfortable for the long haul too.
They'll also give you options - can take a rack/fenders, wider tires for off roading, but will still be lighter and quicker than a mountain bike.

[Bad JuJu]

My neighbor is 6 feet tall, with lonnnnnnnnnng inseams (we look like Mutt & Jeff together), and she got a Giant OCR-something that fits her well. I prefer steel frames also, but she's been very happy with her aluminum-frame Giant. She might have gotten a deal on a model year leftover, but I know she paid well under $1000.

Sounds like you need to go your LBS and do some test-rides.

[amy]

That Kona Sutra is a very pretty bike!! Why do some of you prefer steel frames? Oh... I might have to go test riding. I was going to buy a new car. I think I want a new bike instead. I am trying to convince my husband that I actually need two bikes in the garage (sentimental attachment).

[KnottedYet]

I like steel cuz it's durable, reliable, repairable, comfortable, lively, and absorbs road buzz.

And I grew up on steel bikes, so steel just feels right to me.

[mimitabby]

I like steel cuz it's durable, reliable, repairable, comfortable, lively, and absorbs road buzz.

And I grew up on steel bikes, so steel just feels right to me.

what she said.

But really, aluminum bikes can be great too.

[Veronica]

I am trying to convince my husband that I actually need two bikes in the garage (sentimental attachment).

Of course you need two bikes. I have 4 1/2 bikes.

V.

[SouthernBelle]

V,

Is your half bike the front half or the back half?

[amy]

Of course you need two bikes. I have 4 1/2 bikes.

V.

Yeah, he's just not buying it. In his defense, our house is 469 square feet and our garage is shared with our neighbor and is large enough to fit half a car. (And is pretty full with rock climbing gear, backpacking gear, and all the stuff we can't fit in the house.) When I suggested we could get rid of the washer and dryer and have room for more bikes, he looked at me as if I was going crazy or something.

Obviously, he's not a biker.