Pugmom, your boys are sooooo cute. I love how Bandit is perched on Rocky, lol.

You know you'll have to post pics of your new Safire. Specialized really knew how to design a sexy, hot women's mtb when they created the Safire. It's a work of art in my book. I drool over one every time I see one and wish I could fit a women's specific design. Instead, I go with the ho hum men's models and tweak it to fit.

Don't knock the road bike just yet. The Ruby has an aggressive geometry for racing so you may not be as comfortable on that bike as a "plush" road bike, like the Roubaix, Sequoia or Dolce. You might actually enjoy riding one of these or even a commuter type bike (the Globe), which will put you into a more upright position with less pressure on the hands, wrists, and elbows. Mountain bikers like to ride road bikes too for the cardio fitness aspect.

Personally, if I could only have one bike, I'd go with the mtb. It can be so versatile and when the fit is dialed in, it's really very comfortable for on or off road riding. There are mtb's for many purposes--even for touring. Salsa makes one. The Jan/February issue of Bicycling magazine features one man who lost tons of weight just riding his mtb day in and day out as his commuter, all purpose bike. He rides 16 miles to work daily, plus an extra 10-15 miles on country roads and has ridden up to 75-80 miles on Saturdays.

Tahos--yay! I really like how grippy the soles are and I pair mine with BMX style pedals. I can walk and hike in them too which is a really nice bonus. One thing I did notice was how roomy the Taho's are and I added an insole to make them fit a little more snug. Hope you enjoy yours too! Can we see your new shoooooz?