OMG . . . that Vanilla website . . . I feel like I just landed in a Technicolor world after living in B&W Kansas all my life!

My first steel road bike was a 42 cm Rodriguez Stellar that had been custom built for a very nice lady who was _almost_ the same size as me. She sold it to me for $800 when she was not longer able to ride it. I had that bike long enough to feel like it was an extension of my body, and then it was stolen. I am currently waiting for its replacement to be born. Due date: Some time in the next two weeks!

Moral of story: you can find a really excellent bike within your budget if you are patient and try out lots of bikes to get a good idea of what you want. And if replacing your bike is going to cost, oh, 3X more than what you paid for it, make sure your homeowners/renters/special insurance policy covers "replacement" value, and not just what you paid for it. I have been very lucky in this regard.

Bike #2.1 is a Dahon Speed Pro TT. It's a 4130 cro-moly folding bike with 20" wheels and 27 speeds. You're probably not looking for a folder but I'll tell you about it anyway . . . Got this one because I want to be able to fold my commuting bike and store it under my desk during the day (my office doesn't have bike storage, and I'm a bit paranoid after losing my Rodriguez). My LBS finally (that's another story) got the gears properly tuned, and I took it out for a spin around the neighborhood today. The little wheels pick up speed FAST, the range of gears is great for Seattle's hills, and the ride was solid yet delightfully zippy. I'm still getting to know this bike, but from my experience so far I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is considering a folding road bike. DH teases me for being a dork for being so into this bike, but I don't care. I feel like I've just met my new best friend. And it wants to go fast.