How did you choose your bike?

[roadie gal]

I started out on a mountain bike: GT Karakorum because a boyfriend rode. Later I got into road riding. I went to every store in a 60 mile radius and rode every different brand I could. I finally settled on a Bianchi Veloce. A few years later, as a gift to myself for finishing the Death Ride, I bought a Sampson Silverton. I still have that bike and a Sampson Diablo set up as a tri bike. I must have spent a total of 5 or 6 hours on the phone with Eric Sampson each time I bought a bike from him. They're expensive, but they fit perfectly and they're beautiful bikes.

That being said, the key to a bike is the fit, not the price. Each brand is set up just a little differently. Try as many as you can.

My roommate is 5'2". It took a while to find one for her. Now she rides a Jamis. I can highly recommend them as good bikes for the money.

[MomOnBike]

When my wrists and fingers informed me that I was going to get a recumbent if I wanted to keep riding bikes, I resisted for a while, but started doing some homework as to what is out there. My head spun.

Then one day I walked into my friendly LBS (the owner takes fat ladies seriously!) and looked around. I could hear whispering from the back of the store. ("Hey, sweet thing, you look like you need some excitement in your life.")

DH was with me, so I tried to ignore it. ("We'd turn heads together.")

I test rode a bike. Um, not IT. ("I'm back here. We were made for each other.")

I ignored harder and discussed gear ratios with the LBS owner. ("Remember that cross-country trip you've been planning all your life? I can take you. I want to take you. It will be fun.")

I gave in and looked. There in the back corner was a blue and silver long wheel base aluminum bike with a smoke fairing and an attitude.

I fell in love.

And that, my friends, is how William came into my life. I've told people I like him better than DH, and I'm not entirely sure I'm joking - and neither is DH.