Actually, my fave bike shop carries a fair selection of bents... just not tadpole style trikes. They simply don't carry them anywhere around here. I'm trying to talk the shop into carrying a few of them and they seem to be considering it as they have several people expressing interest and they are literally the biggest shop in the Dallas area. The only bent trike they carry is the E3 which is litterally the slowest thing on the road. I saw the E2 out on a trail this weekend and it was a real pig... the E3 is heavier (since it has 3 wheels vs. 2) and it is even slower.

As for the looks and questions... doesn't bother me in the least. I tend to be fairly outgoing and in many ways, I think a bent... especially the tad-pole trikes... fit my personality. I love to have fun, hate to take life too seriously, and don't mind doing things my own way !

Since I have never been on a road bike, I figure with the right machine, it shouldn't take much practice to go faster than I do now. I have very strong legs and am very good at doing leg presses (I've heard that hills use the same muscles!?!?). My husband is pretty good at distance on his road bike, but I get the impression from him that he doesn't tend to ride terribly fast in road bike terms. I'm sure he will also slow his pace a bit if need be for me to keep up. It is simply not possible for me to keep up with him on the hybrid.

I rode my hybrid this weekend. It was my first time since surgery (only 4 weeks ago) and I was completely pain free ! It was only a 7 mile cruise on a paved bike path, but it was like conquering the world for me . I was supposed to do 2 weeks on the stationary bike at the gym before getting on the real one, but I felt the gym bikes are so crappy that I was more likely to hurt myself on them than I was on my well fitted bike. It has front fork suspension as well as seat post suspension, so it is smooth. Still... I feel a need for speed ! Since a road bike is never going to be a real option, I am totally pinching my pennies because I really want a bent.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. I hope to be on one by the end of the summer! Chris