Oh... my...

[marni]

I so badly want a new bike and I so badly despair of ever getting my dream madone 6.5 for my 65th birthday in 2 1/2 years that I am going to have to remove myself as well. Bike lust is a bad combination with general depression over lack of progress in training, weight, resistance and cardio not to mention speed in riding that I too will have to take a break from the forum for a while. Sigh....

Can you get a time payment plan with the bike stir- layaway style.

[Roadtrip]

I'd have to ask about layaway or paying over time.

The shop I test rode these bikes at doesn't have this exact (Ruby Elite, but last years model with 105 components) bike in my size. The 2011 Elite has SRAM Apex components, not 105 and I'm sure I'd not get it for $1800, when list is $2100. In order to get 105 on a 2011 Ruby, I'd have to move up to the Comp with a list price of $2700, so a BIG step up in price.

This shop DOES have a 2009 Ruby Comp for $120 more, but in my size, just not really thrilled with the paint



I still have to go test the Trek's as well, just to be sure this is what I want, so I'm not running into dropping this kind of money on a bike.

The salesman told my husband to slow me down while on my little test ride. LOL. I was having too much fun. When I got in the sales guy told me DH came back in while I was riding the Ruby and said, I think I'm in trouble.

Shannon

[Kubla]

I so badly want a new bike and I so badly despair of ever getting my dream madone 6.5 for my 65th birthday in 2 1/2 years that I am going to have to remove myself as well.

Marni, don't give up on your dream. It's amazing what you can save when you put a little aside here and there. Yes, it's a big price tag -but not impossible.

Keep your eye on Craigslist and LBS closeouts. You never know when one might show up at a reduced price.

My original plan 2+ years ago when I started my weight loss journey was to buy a road bike as a reward after I'd lost 40 lb. Then I started questioning why I had to wait *that* long. After all, the bike was a means to an end. I bought the Dolce after I'd lost 20 lb and didn't look back.

[Catrin]

Marni - +100 on what Kubla said. Also you might want to check to see if one of your LBS will do layaway - that is how i am getting my Gunnar. I do know how how common a practice this is, but it is a nice thing to take advantage of. Parts are more expensive than I realized, so it will take me about a month longer than I anticipated to pay the Gunnar off - but they will allow me to come and visit my bike when it is complete and take it for spins in the neighborhood. Anyway, it is worth looking into as a possible option. I do like this much better than yet another credit account or waiting until I've saved everything (it seems that emergencies always come when I try to save for a specific item).