Quote Originally Posted by Aubrey
3. I'm going to have to give up my borrowed bike and get one of my own...any brands/types that you love?
Dunno what sort of riding you're planning to do, but in my (not so) humble opinion... Cyclocross bikes rock!

I have a slight kyphosis at the base of my neck, so soreness in the neck/shoulders is always a problem for me. I've found that a) a good fitting, and b) changing my hand position frequently and leaning my head a few degrees to one side and then the other now and again while I ride helps quite a bit. If you scroll down at this link to the RoadBikeRider articles page, there's a great article on "How to Perfect Your Position & Technique" (RoadBikeRider rocks, too).