The LBS credited the parts that were taken off the bike. He discounted the labor 50% and the new parts 10%. The new shifters are designed perfectly for my tiny hands and are so easy to use. I rode the Trek FX 7.6 WSD for about a half hour after we got her home. We christened her "Violet," as she is almost completely purple. She rides very differently from my 44 Ruby Elite. Although the Trek FX 7.6 is a size small, it seems huge next to the Ruby. I assume it is because it is a very different type of bicycle. I am excited because I can use a trunk bag now. I've never wanted to use a trunk bag on the Ruby; I was told it could be hard on the carbon frame. I wish I could have gotten Violet sooner. There is a 25 mile this weekend and it would have been fun to ride it then. For now, I will stick with the ruby.

I am really going to need to practice with Violet so I can climb hills as successfully as I do with the Ruby. The gears feel so different. The stock seat on the Ruby has been wonderful for me. I can already tell the stock seat on Violet is not comfortable. Before I give up, I am going to move the seat back a bit and up a little. I guess it was too much to think I could be lucky enough to have two stock saddles that worked. I have thought about buying another seat like what is on the Ruby, but don't know if a road bike saddle works on a hybrid bicycle. I really don't want to go through of the work of taking off the Ruby's seat and putting it on Violet to test it out. But if I must, I must. Any thoughts???

I can't wait to go on some of the trails that are the crushed limestone. I will feel much more confident with a hybrid bike. I had wider treaded tires installed on the hybrid. They aren't that much bigger than the original tires, but enough to add the self-confidence I need. Remember, I am the one who crashed my Giant twice!

I really understand why one needs to name their bikes. We have five bicycles in the garage now (he has two, I have three). It's hard to talk to know which one we are talking about if we didn't name them! And they are locked up and the garage door is closed!