HI everyone,

What a refreshing place to find!! I've recently started riding again. I'm on a cheap dept store bike and still loving it. My first goal is a 35 mile ride in late Sept and my eye set on Bike Across Kansas (BAK) in 2011.

I would like a better bike but I'm not sure what to be looking at. I live in Kansas and there is a lot of gravel/dirt roads ~ including the road I live on which is 1/2 mile to a paved road. I want to do longer rides on the road but also need to be able to get over the gravel to get there ~ any suggestions?

great to find you guys!!