Hi everyone!

I've been reading these forums for the past few months as I have been thinking about starting cycling. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was about 13 but have been wanting to get my first adult bike for awhile.

One day I just decided to stop into an LBS to see what I would be getting myself into. The owner suggested a hybrid at first and let me test ride it (even though I was hesitant and feeling somehow unprepared for my first bike ride in awhile). I LOVED it, it made me feel so giddy riding down the streets and I kept wondering why I had ever stopped riding a bike. He then insisted I test a road bike, which was pretty disastrous. But when I did get those few good strokes on the road bike I fell in love with the lightness and speed.

So after a few more months of test riding various bikes and getting a feel for a few different LBSes I think I've decided on my bike. A 2008 Kona Jake. I need the cross bike for a couple of our bad stone chip and oil roads here and I just love the versatility of them. I wanted a Jake the Snake at first, but I'm a poor student and don't want to get ahead of myself.

I've been waiting for weeks for them to come in and finally got to get on one on Saturday. It was only on the trainer though, because it was on hold for someone else and the weather was so nasty here.

I'm so excited, I might have my very first, brand new, shiny bike to ride very soon. This is getting crazy long, but I'm so happy to have found this forum and share my excitement with people who actually like bikes. You all seem so great, I can't wait until I start riding and coming here more often.

Thanks for listening!

~Erin