Am I crazy?? And Thanks to ...??

[Squeaky]

Thanks! And you're right, the important thing will be to keep riding.

[Squeaky]

Thanks everyone! You input really does make me feel better about the cost (I guess I'm feeling a little emotionally needy right now ).

[Hub]

She's a beauty! Just enjoy

[Geonz]

Get out of that "what will real riders think?" mode ... you're making yourself far too important When real riders roll their eyes, half the time it's so that you'll *think* they're a real rider... p'raps it feeds some need of theirs. Hey, does it keep you from having fun?
If your choice isn't messing with their riding satisfaction, then no harm no foul.
Now, I sympathize with "real riders" when - and it happens every season - a rider or two will come along who gets into the sport, gets a fast bike, and gets going fast - but doesn't have the knowledge & skills to support it, and does things like hop into pacelines without realizing how important "the rules" are (or keeps going out fast and then not being able to keep up, and expecting people to sympathize and slow down - there's a big social difference between casual & testosterone rides!)

[Squeaky]

ouch. Good points, I'll definitely keep them in mind. Although I don't see me forgetting that I'm a newbie, I also don't think I'm the type to jump in a pace line. Maybe one of these days I'll be that good, but for now I'll be working on it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

.... it happens every season - a rider or two will come along who gets into the sport, gets a fast bike, and gets going fast - but doesn't have the knowledge & skills to support it...

We have a wealthy friend who has a $7,000 road bike and just ordered a second one because he "wants one without a rack" -a rear rack that he attached to the first bike. We like him, but it's funny how he does not take the time to learn ANYTHING about taking care of his bikes. He can't change a tire --got as far as cutting his old tube into two pieces in order to pull it out using a screwdriver (without pulling one side of the tire bead out first, needless to say), and then aborted mid-project when he realised he'd STILL have to remove the rear wheel in order to get the new tube on! Too funny. I asked him about his stem and he had no clue what a stem was. Gotta love him. He sure can ride fast though!

[Denise223]

Squeaky That is one GORGEOUS BIKE Ride her often!! What kind of Serotta is that?

If you don't have a lot of cycling experience, I would suggest that you take a bicycle safety course, if you think that's something you'd like to do.
Out here, we have "MassBike", and they offer courses for both beginners & intermediates. Perhaps your lbs can lead you in the right direction.

Stick around here at TE and let us know how you're doing!

Peace & Love,

Denise

[RoadRaven]

Should "newbies" have such a nice bike???

OF COURSE!!!

All of us should have the best for the type of riding we want to do - unfortunately, we generally have to start lower than our sights and work our way along, trading in parts or trading up to newer models.

You should have the bike you like the most and that you feel comfortable on. Its as easy as that.