Quote Originally Posted by Aubrey
Thanks for the advice. Lot's of bike shops here in Southern Cal. Time to get serious about a bike purchase...UGH.

Oh no no no no Aubrey!
Not "UGH"

Its - woohoo!!!

And if its the cost of the bike you are worried about - don't worry!

...how to budget to buy a bike is easy... of course, the first cost to reduce is petrol and car maintenance (easy - you'll be riding your bike)

... second cost to reduce... also easy... those parties and dinners you have to go to and bring food with you? Road kill is a fresh and interesting dish easily collected - at no cost - while out riding.

... heating and power bills? easy again... buy a wind trainer as part of the deal and then you can sit on the bike to warm yourself up... of course, you won''t want TV cause you will be busy reading cycling articles, books and interesting forums like this... and the lights will get minimal use because you'll be healthily tired each night and can go to bed early! Your main power costs will be the fridge (for chocolate milk and easily heated leftovers), the microwave (to heat the quick leftovers and cook rice), one element on your oven (to cook pasta) and your PC to read TE!

...Phone? you only need the internet connection to stay in touch with all the cool cycling forums and bike sites. you wont have time to talk on the phone - beside, if your friends dont talk bikes, or arent willing to listen to you talk bikes - what kind of friends are they???

So... go and enjoy hunting for the perfect bike, and dont worry if you see more than one you like... many of us have a stable and that is completely justifiable and rational... and using some of the cost-cutting measures in your life I have mentioned (I'm sure some of the other gals here can think of ways to be as "helpful" as me...) you'll be able to build a stable of fine steeds for any conditions!