Conference noted::bicycle

    Anne,
    
    Bravo, I think you have the right approach.  It looks like you
    already know a lot about today's bikes and biking.  Here are a
    few random comments...
    
    From evidence in the shops and in these Notes, a bike at about $700
    to $800 should be a good solid investment on which you can build.
    As everyone will tell you, what you build upon is the frame - get
    as good a frame as you can for the money.  You can upgrade components
    over time.  (By the way, don't be shocked at the prices.  I'm one of
    those over-$1000 bike owners, but my previous two bikes were at $400 -
    inflation and exchance-rate do a lot for prices.)
    
    Frame materials per se can be left up to you, as long as the frame
    builder is reputable.  There's nothing wrong with CrMo steel, if you
    like that; aluminum technologies are ok, too.  The earlier Vitus
    glued lug frames were ok if you were small and didn't mind flex,
    but today's Trek and Cannondale frames are reputedly quite good.
    Carbon fibre is probably out of your price range.  Fibre frames
    are high-performance, and they don't show dirt ... but they are
    less durable than steel or aluminum.
    
    Decide what type of riding you want to do, or to work towards.
    I *personally* think a classic road bike is the most versatile.
    If you are interested in off-road biking, then mountain bikes are
    fine, but they'll be limited on the road.  Touring bikes are ok,
    too, if you are going to do a lot of touring, but they don't have the
    handling and deft response you might want if you want to work up
    to quick club-rides or performance work on difficult terrain.
    Criterium, time-trial, and such bikes have limited application
    (especially on any longer ride!) - they are not meant to carry
    you gracefully through a day or a half-day of cross-country riding.
    
    For the money, people seem to prefer Japanese components these
    days.  I am reporting an opinion here; not agreeing or disagreeing.
    I have Italian components mostly (plus Japanese pedals and a French
    shifter), but Shimano et al. seem to deliver value for money.
    
    Clipless pedals really are worth it.  This seems to be the big
    consensus, and I heartily agree.  Indexed shifting is popular, 
    especially for off-roaders and *some* racers ... but I see nothing 
    wrong with friction shifters.  So there!
    
    Oh, and don't forget the aero seatpost.  :-)
    
    And, as everyone will insist, FIT is very important - don't settle
    for a better bike with a poorer fit.  That's a bad trade-off.  Make
    sure the shop takes time to fit you well, or uses the Fit Kit.
    And that also means that a reputable bike shop is also important,
    for service and advice ... or a local, supportive cadre of bikers
    you can call on.
    
    Where are you thinking of looking/shopping?  Any leads so far?
    Any riding preferences?
    
    cheers,
    -john

    Anne,
    
    I endorse John's comments about fit.  As I'm sure you are aware, men
    and women are built differently :-).  This also applies to bike fit,
    where the different relative proportions for leg length and torso
    length between men and women can make a frame designed to fit a man an
    uncomfortable ride for a woman.  There are a number of bikes on the
    market specially designed for women (not the traditional "woman's
    bike", they are not worth considering for serious riding these days). 
    Have a look at notes 268, 1091, 1197 and 1386.
    
    Have fun,
    Richard.

    	Anne,
    
    	We need to know what state (of the USA) you're in.
    
    	Once we determine that, we can direct you (hopefully) to
    	reputable shops, etc. There may also be another Digit who's
    	into cycling who can offer his/her time to give you some
    	pointers.
    
    	So, where are you?
    
    	Scott (I'm in Taxachusetts)

    	Re. -1
    
    		Right.  If your in N.E. there are a lot of Digits
    	involved in local clubs and we can point you in the right
    	direction or even assist personally if your close by.  Even
    	if your not in N.E. there are a lot of other Digits that
    	might be able to help you out, like the guy that made the
    	comment about Carbon Fiber frames being worth the expense
    	because *they don't show dirt* like other bike materials.
    	That's a new one for me :-)  
    
    					_Jerry
    		

    
    Reply to .1,.2,.3,.4:
    
    >> Where are you thinking of looking/shopping? Any leads so far?
    
    	I haven't actually looked at any bike shops yet, just read
    	material and chatted with a bunch of folks ... last month's 
    	bicycling mag ... notesfiles .. etc.
    	
    	I was going to look at a bike shop I passed by on Rte.9 on the 
    	other side of Frammingham (towards Boston) , but I can't remember 
    	the name of it ... But, if you all have any ideas on better places 
    	to look, I'm open to suggestions .... I'd rather drive around, look 
    	around, and make a sound invest rather than buy something that 
    	seems like a good deal, but turns out not to be in the end .......
    
    >> Any riding preferences?
    
    	I was hoping to do some 5 to 6 mile rides around the Marlboro 
    	and Framingham area until I felt I was in shape enough to try
    	a club-ride excursion(s) ...... annnnnnnnnnd then, who knows,
    	if its a ton of fun, I love the mountains (orginally from the
    	Rocky Mountain area in the WEST, but a 6 year vet of Massachusetts
    	with college and all, and it looks like I'll probably be around
    	for a few more years) and would probably be into doing trips 
    	up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, & Maine areas.
    	However, if I turn out to be a fast, marathon type rider, I'd be 
    	into entering races I suppose (but probably unlikely that this
    	would be the case) ...... I probably wouldn't be a major touring 
    	of the United States person, since I have to wait until the 
    	ol' vacation time adds up .... 
    	
    	Bottom line: I suppose something like you suggested in the middle
    	area would probably be about right .... I think a mountain bike 
    	might be to much at this point in time ...
    
    >> Have a look at notes 268, 1091, 1197, and 1386.
    
    	I will, thanks for the tip .......
    
    >> So, where are?
    
    	I'm currently in Marlboro, Mass. ... but might be moving
    	to Frammingham sometime soon .... Sooooooooo, I'm afraid I am
    	a TAXachutian, but am willing to drive to New Hamphire, or 
    	whatever if it will save me some money ....
    
    >> there are alot of other Digits that might be able to help you
    >> out, like the guy who made the comment about the Carbon Fiber 
    >> frames ....
    
    	As it is with car buying, expert advice is always welcome! I
    	guess I'm not to sure what a "sure fitting" bike means, and 
    	probably wouldn't be able to tell on a test drive unless I had
    	someone asking me the right questions .. I definitely don't 
    	want to spend 700-800 dollars on something that kills my joints 
    	and rear-end after the first few rides and then gets placed in 
    	the basement for safe-keeping until next spring when the urge
    	hits again to go for a bike ride ..... :-) ........ I'm about
    	5'6" and 115-120 pounds if that's a help for picking out a frame and
    	fit as well as brand name ..........
    
    	Any bike shop names, brand names, or other help would be welcome ...
    	Thanks for your many responses ......
    	Anne 
    

    
    some more thoughts .........
    
    tonight I had a chance to really search through this notesfile and 
    read some of the other novice, new bikers, etc. notes .. and found some 
    very good pointers .... I also found alot of names of folks who look
    like they've been in the business for awhile and really know there stuff!!
    ... if anyone is willing, I would be interested in having an
    experienced biker join me at a bike shop to get me started on the right
    foot with a good bike .... after reading some notes on sore rears, 
    wrists, etc ... I really think it would be worth the money for the 
    FIT KIT .... and possibly a 700-800 dollar bike ... I definitely would 
    be interested in a bike above 500 since that seems to be the real cut
    off point for some serious biking with the comfort ....
    
    in any event, I am interested in getting started on the right foot ...
    but being new to a majority of the terminology I don't want to get 
    the run around at a bike dealer and do want to make a sound investment
    in bike that fits .... 
    
    if your interested please reply to this note, or send me mail at 
    fragle::mcclure ........
    
    thanks,
    anne
    

    
    RE: .4 ---  Well, Jerry, I wondered if anyone would noticed
    the "doesn't show dirt" remark I slipped in.  Sharp eyes!  ;-)
    
    RE: .-1 and .-2 --- Brand-recommendations are very subjective.
    I'd gladly volunteer to look at new bikes with you if I were
    closer than Charlotte.  I'm sure you'll get plenty of assistance
    more locally.  Your height/weight seems ideal for cycling,
    certainly aerodynamic.  Good luck!
    
    -john

    Anne,
    
    	You can use this as a guide.  Rather than professional racers,
    these are the dimensions of average Digits (I guess some are/could
    be pro's) like you and me.  As you can see, beauty (or pain in the
    tosh so to speak) is in the eyes of the beholder.  Hope this helps
    and if your ever north of the border (no offense intended John) look
    me up.
    							_Jerry
    
    BTW - There are a lot of female bike Digits in MRO...perhaps you
    will get a response from this note and can get together for lunch.
================================================================================
Note 1068.42                    Frame Size Survey                       42 of 49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  Inseam|in   20      21          22          23      24      25      26
   Inch |cm 50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64
	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    27  |
    27.5|
    28  |X.
    28.5|    X.  
    29  |        .
	+---+---+---+.--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    29.5|             X. X 
    30  |                X.  XX  XXX          X
    30.5|                     .
    31  |                    X X  .       X                       X
    31.5|                            .
	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---.---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    32  |                                X.  XX
    32.5|                                    .
    33  |                                   XXXX.
    33.5|                                    X    .  X
    34  |                            X      XXX      .X
	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--.+---+---+---+---+
    34.5|                                                 .
    35  |                                             X       .
    35.5|                                                      X X
    36  |                                                        X  .     X
	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--.+
            50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64
         

    	Ok...how many people were supprised at the results?

    I agree with some of the other noters that $700 seems to be a good
    place to jump in.  Beyond that the law of diminishing returns starts
    to take over.  A nice CroMo road bike would probably tie you over
    for a few years.
    
    If your in or around Framingham try Frank's Spoke 'n Wheel on Rte
    9.  He's excellent.  Good luck and let us know what you settle on.
    
    Phil
    

i hope i'm not commiting a heresy here but...

i don't think you need to spend $700-800 to get a decent bike, especially a 
first one.  i would put myself in your shoes about a year ago.  i started 
riding to work (8 mi) and before summer's end was joining the local club for 
rides up to 50 mi.

i rode about 1500 mi last summer and did it on a 20 year old peugeot.  (i'm 
not suggesting this, it weighs about 35 lbs!  good bike for it's time 
though.)  so this year i bought a new bike.  i did my homework and shopped
around and ended up buying a bike from a private party at dec 
(wmois::drivetts, if you want to contact him.  he has a few bikes.)  i 
think someone in your shoes can spend less than $500 and get a bike that 
will be pretty terrific in your eyes for several years.

ok, fire away,
craig

    	Anne,
    		If you've been reading about women's bikes, the name Terry
    is familiar to you. If you can wait a month, Georgena Terry will be
    doing a 'womens bike' workshop at a bike shop in Concord, NH on April
    25. If you are serious about learning the why and how of women's bikes,
    I'd recommend this highly.  I believe she's also scheduled to do a
    similar workshop (much :-(  ) later in the year at a Waltham shop. I'll
    probably be driving up there to attend. - Chris
    
    ps. There's a bunch of digit Terry riders - just ask. - C 

                                                                       
    an update ......
    
    Thanks so much for all the responses, I've extracted all the responses
    in this notesfile and will definitely take them into consideration ...
    
    A few folks have responded via e-mail, soo I think I've got some good
    people helping me out in the shopping arena .....
    
    Bike fever has definitely hit and the search is on!!!!   :-)   anne
    

    
       Yeee Haaahhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
       Go for it !!
    
       John C.
    

Be warned, I just started back to cycling after a 16 year hiatus.
Now I'm doing ~12 miles 4 out of 5 lunch hours and trying to
organise to do a 40 mile cycle at least once each weekend.

It's great, especially now Spring is finally arriving.

Bernard.

    
    get this one guys ... i was just looking through a buyer's guide, and 
    one of the ten most hottest bikes is a handbuilt 2.7 pound project
    stumpjumper frame using aerospace carbon fiber and titanium lugs for 
    the looooooow price of $10,000 .. and that's not a typo .. annnnnd,
    the production line frame is a mere $3,000 .. piece a cake! ... i think
    i'll go for this one!! ... hey, I want to have a good bike and all ....
    
    
    
    juuuuuuuuuust kidding, not to worry it is a bit out of my price range
    and at this point, and  i'm not sure i could really feel the difference 
    anyway ... but i thought you all would get a good laugh ... :-)
    

    
    re .14
    
    You can get them fixed, you know.....   :^)
    

    	A new rider spending $700 or so on a new bike leaves me shaking my
    head:  I would aim for the cheapest bike that meets the following
    criteria -
    	
    	1) Fit   - can be especially important for women
    	2) Aluminum 27" rims (standard size, safety in wet)
    	3) Quick releases front and rear (easy to carry in car, fix flats)
    	4) Gearshift not on stem
    	5) Lowest gear under 35" (for E. Mass. area's hills)

    And that's it!  If you could find a $200 bike that fits these, I'd
    recommend it!! (as a starter bike - which would eventually end up as
    a rain/winter bike if the rider likes cycling and upgrades when they
    know what they want).
    	You can change/upgrade: seats, rims/tires, gears, etc to make a
    cheap bike that meets the above criteria into a very nice bike. If you
    start out with an expensive bike, you will probably want to change a
    bunch of things on it regardless as your cycling experience and strength
    increases: things like clip-in pedals, gearing, etc   A new rider
    really doesn't know what they will need after a year of cycling. True,
    if they get a good bike to start out with they can make these changes
    IF they want to continue cycling. Some people try it and find it's not
    for them - and then have an expensive object d'art getting dusty in the
    garage. A proper fitting cheap bike is perfectly OK for a new rider.
    I'd steer a woman towards the cheapest of the Terry line, for starters.
    But the bottom line is Fit, Fit, FIT!  - Chris
    	
                                            

    
    	I'd agree that fit is important, but (..opinion..) I think that
    there is more freedom in road bike frame sizing than some of the 
    guidelines would have us believe. The formulas seem to be targeted
    at getting the smallest frame possible for racing, where bike weight
    and rider leverage over the bike the purported benefits.
    
    	I got a copy of Frank Berto's excellent book called "Upgrading
    Your Bike". Now, I don't know how well respected Frank is, but only
    one of his 4 bikes satisifies the frame size formula for his inseam.
    His bikes are larger than recommeded by the sizing technique.

        So are mine.
    
    	I personally have about a 29 inch inseam, which would put me
    on a 50cm frame.  I had a bike with a 50cm frame and it just felt 
    too small. And, the smaller sizes generally have the shorter 165mm 
    cranks which also feel a bit tight.  I noticed the difference.
    
    	My Raleigh Super Course 12 has a rather tall frame for my legs,
    I think it's a 55cm, but I swapped the 100mm steerer stem for a 60mm, 
    set the seat height and now find it very comfortable. With the bigger
    frame and relaxed geometry, longish rides on New England's bumpy
    roads aren't so bad, even with narrow slicks.

    	My 54cm Univega Gran Premio feels good too, though I might put
    a wider set of bars on it, maybe the SR anatomical bend. 
    
    	I think that if the frame is in the ball park and not dangerously
    tall, then a better "fit" can be obtained by focusing on things like 
    stem length, seat shape and adjustment, handlebar width and
    adjustment, and finally brake lever location.  Some of these areas
    can't be properly adjusted until you have the chance to go out and
    ride the thing. Bring your tools and tweak it till it feels good.
    
	If I were going to buy a new $700 bike right now, I'd try to
    ride everything that I might consider.  Many, if not most, bike shops
    will let you do this.  Then, I'd get the machine that felt smooth, 
    light, fast and efficient. Spec sheets, magazine articles and sizing 
    formulas are fine, but I don't think you know until you get out and 
    ride it. And, if the bike you like most needs a shorter stem or
    different seat for you to feel good on it, tell the salesman that's
    what you want.  He might do it.
    
    

    
    All the foregoing advice on fit has been good.  But sometimes
    I suspect there's a kind of Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle 
    in the background here.  
    
     - The human body can adapt.  It can get used to a lot of things.
    
     - That means it can adapt to bad set-ups as well as good, and
       get used to set-ups that may be unconfortable or non-optimal
       in the long run.  
    
     - So, "what's comfortable" (what feels right) to someone who's
       not ridden in a long time, or to someone who's gotten used to
       a non-optimal set-up for him/her, may not be an accurate guage.
    
     - The bike can be adjusted, as .-1 points out - seatpost and stem,
       principally.  
    
     - Most people who haven't ridden in a while start with the seat
       relatively low ("too low"), and find, if provoked, they can raise
       it later, and stretch out to more comfort *and* power.  But too
       high a seat (legs fully extended) can stress the knees (and pelvis!).
    
     I thought .-1 made a good point that optimal fit is influenced by
     riding you do - how long, how fast, over what terrain.  A somewhat
     larger frame can be great for touring or all-day-rides.  ("Somewhat
     larger" is measured in 1-2cm's.)
    
     This year I've tried some new things, including picking up speed
     and cadence, and different parts of the setup seem to be "accentuated"
     on various parts of the body.  Some things don't pop up 'til you push
     yourself.  (I tried aero-bars in a 24-hour TT yesterday and thought
     a lot about what fit repercussions that was going to have!  BTW, I find
     I prefer aero-bars over Energy Bars because they aren't as sticky and
     don't get crumbs on you.)
    
     So take Fit with a grain of salt, I'd have to say - follow roughly the
     guidelines for your bodily proportions, to get a good basic fit, then,
     as .-1 and others point out, test ride, and be prepared to change out
     or adjust the setup over time.  Nothing wrong in that.  I've often 
     thought I'd like to have a critic along to watch me ride, to judge
     fit, stance, etc. - so that might be valuable for you, too.
    
    -john
    

    I'd like to throw my tuppence in here, and say I'd go along with the
    "loose fit" camp rather than (I suppose you'd call it) the "tight fit"
    camp. For ultimate performance, comfort and pose value, it would be
    excellent to ride a frame built just for me, but there again I get
    along with clothes bought off-the-shelf and not made just for me.
    
    There is a lot of adjustment possible in a bike. The most important one
    is seatpost height, but after that you've got handlebar height, stem
    length, brake position, handlebar rotation (within the clamp), saddle
    fore-and-aft, saddle angle; and so on. What it adds up to is that most
    riders could use several basic frame size, but just adjust those
    parameters until they feel comfortable. 
    
    Of course, you have to know how comfort relates to correctness. Most
    beginners will put the saddle too low and say they feel comfortable. Of
    course, we know better, don't we.
    
    
    Rod

                
    Well, first off, I would like to thank you ALL for supplying some
    much needed advice in the area of bike buying! I read all of your
    advice and then some on bike buying before finally deciding on a bike.

    With the help of Steve Muldoon and Ed Fisher, who actually accompanied 
    me on various bike buying runs, I send my extended thanks! Ed took
    me to a place in Concord, NH. were I made my final decision. Haggett's
    bike shop (did I get the name right ed?)

    On the advice from Ed (and others in the notesfile), I took the FIT
    KIT test for $25.00, and believe me for other first time buyers or for 
    buyers who haven't had this done before, it is the best $25.00 investment 
    you can make. You get a complete set of stats, which if you are an adult
    probably won't change much over the years, that you can reuse at other
    bike shops and take into full consideration when buying a bike or other
    bike accessories and components. It gives you an ideal bike size as
    well as a plus and minus range of comparable sizes. It has everything:
    frame size, seatpost size, handlebar size, various angles, and more.
    I highly recommend it to anyone no matter what kind of bike you are 
    going to buy.

    Well, enough of the soap box routine ... the envelope pleeeease .....

    

    Due to her typical "women" stats (namely, long legs and short torso),
    Anne is the proud new owner of a neeeew .......

	TERRY bicycle!!!!!!
	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Type: 		 Road/Sport
	Brand: 		 Terry
	Model: 		 Classic 1989 (ha, the '89s were on sale,  
			               save a 100+ bucks)
	Frame: 		 Lugged steel with CrMo tubing
	Component Group: Shimano Deore DX (18 speeds)
	Seat:		 Women's gel
	Pedals: 	 LOOK clipless :-)  (I just couldn't resist, there 
					     goes that 100 bucks!)
	Wheel size: 	 Small front wheel (I believe 24inch) and larger
			 back wheel ....    		
	Weight: 	 23 pounds

	Fit? It's great, and feels terrific, size can make all the difference
	     in the world! (I've been riding bikes that have not been my
	     size for years, and I think my body will appreciate the correct
	     size even if my pocket book resists for a bit ....)
    		
   Annnnnnnnnnd ...........



	
   She's the happy new member of the Granite State Wheelman! (A little 
   bias, I must admit, the prez is ed) ........ Who's sponsoring some
   great stuff for training, maintainence and certification for new and 
   experienced bikers starting in April ... annnnd bike rides have 
   already begun for novice and expert .... :-)
	
   Once again, thanks for all your advice and help ..... it was greatly
   appreciated.

   Anne

    

    	I think it unfair for the president of anything to exert
    	so much influence over someone naive to the sport.
    
    	8-)>
    
    	Anne,
    
    	Just kidding. Glad to see such enthusiasm. Now, all we need
    	is a few degrees more of warm weather.
    
    	Scott

    re:.22: I will have "exerted influence" when Anne has bought a helmet.
    
    I think it is a shame that she did not spend a few years
    and hundreds of dollars suffering on a "man's bike" before
    finding the Terry.  :-)
    
    Are the best helmet deals at Nashbar these days?
    
    ed

    
          Looks like it's time for "Anne's Excellent Adventure"!
    
          RE: influence
    
              You're not in marketing, by any chance, are you Ed?  8^)
           Hmmm, maybe if I held office in a bike club Anne would have
           been more receptive to my recommendations. After all, every-
           one should have an aero kickstand and magnesium alloy Mickey
           Mouse bell, shouldn't they?  %*)
    
              Seriously, its great that we have this forum full of folks
           willing to share their time and knowledge. I know that I've
           learned a great deal more than I expected - I thought that I
           already knew everything! (At least that's what I've been telling
           my boss for the last three years)
    
              Later,
    
                                                  Steve RM-WO
                                                  (Read Mostly-
                                                   Write Occasionally)

    Me, marketign?  No, heck, I can't even spel the wurd.  I always wanted
    to be an engineer, now I are one.
    
    ed

    
    Not to worry, i'm still pretty gullible ... I did read up on steve's
    hany dandy bike catelogs and stopped by Bike Nashbar last night ...
    
    I found a great pair of shoes (and not the 150 dollar hawaii-an
    specials either) .. rather a pair by GG (I think), but they weren't in 
    my size .. bummer ..
    
    I'm afraid I haven't got a helmet yet, but am working on it .... (|:-)
    
    Rather I got a really neat CATEYE computer that has cadence and 6 other
    neat functions as well as a LUIQIPAK for water (it holds up to 1 liter and
    goes around your waist ... looks like it will be good for hiking too!)
    

    
    2G (Due-Gi) shoes have done well by me... keep looking.  What kind
    of helmet do you think you'll get?  Remember, it's easier to paste
    neat-o decals on hard-shell helmets, and spruce up your image.  :-)
    
    -j

    Speaking of helmets...

    Giro has a one year replacement policy.  If you break it in a crash
    within one year just send it in and they give you a new one.  I just
    got my replacement back in only 1 week.

    Two broken helmets in four months!  Giro gets my endorsement.  Just
    hope I don't need to use the replacement policy again soon.

Hi Ann,

Congratulations on your new purchase!  I bought a Terry Precision 2 years ago.
I've done a lot of miles on that bike since then. I love it.  This fall I went
and purchased the Mt. Marcy (its a Terry) mountain bike which is also a lot 
of fun.

I bought my Precision from Fred at Haggets in Concord.  I'm also 
currently taking his bicycle maintenace course which is also super. Really
great folks to deal with.

I'm also a Granite State Wheelmen member.  Perhaps I'll see you at one
of the rides!  (but... I also spend many cycling miles as the stoker on
a tandem, so I may not be recognizable by my Terry bicycle.) Send mail
when you're going to be at one of the rides and we can look for each other!

Danielle

    
    Another update ...... :-)
    
    Well, I'm an official owner of a helmet now!  (|:-)
    On Friday I picked up my bike and some more goodies .. (boy, that
    government check better come soon ... my VISA has about had it!)
    
    I got the GIRO helmet .. I didn't know about the year round
    replacement ... I hope I don't have to use it anytime soon, but it is a
    good thing to know ... with the yellow cover ... whiiiiich, after my
    first ride already got a bit scuffed up ... (hey, i'm a real biker now,
    scuffs and all .. hee, hee)
    
    I also picked up some shoes .. the 2G - Dore-Gi's were the ones I tried
    on at Nashbar but they didn't have my size ... Fred at Hagget's (great
    shop!) didn't have them either, but he helped size me into a pair of 
    grey Shimanos, and they seem to be working great! .. It sure helps to
    have some service when your trying to buy something that fits ... About
    4 or 5 of the GSW members dropped by while I was getting my pedals
    fitted, etc. so I got to meet some folks from the club ...
    
    Danielle, I'm hoping to be doing the effective cycling gig on
    Thursday nights starting on the 12th and hopefully some easy rides on
    the weekends ... sooo, if you see a real beginner biker (ie. stopping every 
    2-3 miles to get water, asking some pretty niave questionsabout biking, 
    and can't get out of her clipless (bindings) pedals at the stop signs, 
    but happens to be decked out in the latest accessories, etc.) that's 
    probably me, so do say "HI" .... 
    
    Once I got the computer installed on Saturday, I just had to take it
    for a spin ... wow, what a difference in performance ... I ended up
    going 6.4 miles with just one stop to get a drink and to get the wobbly
    legs straightened out ... annnnnnd, even on Sunday I didn't have any
    real sore spots (and that was in jeans to, without biking shorts!) ...
    but, knock on wood, ask me again at the end of the week .. :-)
    

    Another "sort-of" new one...
    
    One of the women here in the Minneapolis office asked me to help her in
    her quest for a road bike last week.  So, one evening we went out to a
    half dozen local shops for her to try different frames, manufacturers,
    etc.  She is very athletic (baseball, curling, running) and has a
    mountain bike, and she wanted a road bike for longer rides.
    
    She tried cro-mo on Trek, Aluminum on Trek (1100, 1200) and Canondale, 
    Giant, and half a dozen others.  Different shops had her on frames from
    49 cm all the way to 54 cm.
    
    She is about 5'1" or 5'2" with a 29" inseam.  After several places, and
    deciding she liked the Trek aluminum frames better than the other bikes
    she had tried, we wandered into a shop that has Terry's.  I knew of
    them from this notesfile, but she wasn't.  
    
    Not to pick on women of slight stature, but it looked like a
    convention...  here I am, acting as driver and providing totally
    worthless advice - 6'3", 240 lbs.  and around me are three women - two
    sales women 5'0", and 5'1", and Julie (the tall one at 5'2").... (all I
    could think of the old Randy Newman song...)  It turns out that both
    sales women ride Terry's and got her on one for a test.  BTW: before
    anybody chews me - she ABSOLUTELY rides rings around me the best day of
    my life!
    
    One short ride on a Terry Prism and all other bikes were OUT!!!!!!! 
    She turned around and rerode the Trek 1200 and there WAS NO contest. 
    They didn't have the Terry Symmetry that she wanted, but several were
    coming in this week in the 20.5" that they measured to be best on her.  
    She'll be going back Friday night to check out the Symmetry's, and
    they'll have several frame sizes.  She'll probably try the 19", but I
    think she'll buy the 20.5.  It sure looked like a really good fit and
    she just raved about it when she rode it.  I've also been pushing a
    helmet, and she'll probably pick one up when she gets the bike.
    
    So, I suspect by next week there'll be another digital person out there
    burning up the road on a Terry.  This notesfile is one GREAT
    advertisement for these things!