The Bike

     So, this was the big investment.  Yes, I have two, old Schwinn road bike frames, a granny bike fitted with baskets for grocery getting, and an 80's Peugot road bike that I use for commuting everyday, BUT none of them would get me to my destination in a timely and relatively comfortable fashion.  I did a 100 mile bike trip on the Peugot last summer, from Green Bay, WI to my hometown.  Let me tell you, when the geometry is off on a bike, even by a fraction, you'll pay for it... and I did.  It wasn't my horse legs, or my sturdy Judy (slang for the ol' crotch), but my neck & down my spine which ached for three days after the trip.  Some of my companions for that trip had taut calves, sore thighs, tired this or that, etc., but my muscles (other than my neck) felt normal.  Apparently I was built for cycling... or pulling a plow.
     There were A LOT of questions that I needed to have answered by someone who actually knows something about bikes.  Despite popular belief, I am pretty much bike illiterate.  My ability to put a bike together after it arrives in the mail, my strength and/or endurance to go for long distances, or being able to change a flat tube mean nothing.  I'm a carpenters daughter, so looking at a bike I already had as a guide helped me put together a bike I had bought via Ebay. I really had NO idea what I was doing.  Pertaining to stamina, I'm a corn-fed Wisconsinite; I'm built for the long haul.  And as for changing a flat, you just have to do it--it's like picking ticks off your dog, a necessary evil.
     Even before any questions arose, I at least had an idea of what I wanted and a few clear functions I knew my new bike had to fulfill.  I broke it down into a few categories to make it easy on myself.  First, and I think the most obvious, was Cost.  There was also Comfort, Durability, and Weight (preferably light).  I had a budget that I allotted myself to spend on the bike.  I gave myself a little leeway in all of the categories because I knew that I may find a bike that was a little more (or less) expensive than what I had anticipated to spend, but would give me the most bang for my buck and fit my needs better than another.
     I, luckily, have made a good friend  of a man who co-owns a bike shop in Baltimore.  We'll call him Jasper for our purposes.  Jasper has been cycling for many years, competes in Cyclocross, etc.  He knows his stuff.  I went to him on a couple occasions, homemade scones in tow as "payment" for his valuable time & knowledge, and we chatted about different options, my wants/needs in a bike, measured me for a bike that fit me well, etc.  After our little chit chat sessions, he used all of his noggin power to come up with a few ideas & we narrowed it from there.
     So, my new bike.  Yes, it's aluminum.  Even the basic cyclist, myself included, knows that aluminum is rigid in comparison to steel or some other metals.  You may be asking yourself, "If you're looking for comfort for your long ride, then WHY would I choose an aluminum frame?!"  There were several factors that played into my choice.  Due to my lack of bike knowledge I ventured to ask Jasper that very question.  He explained, or at least what I took away from our conversation was, that the geometry of newer aluminum frames in comparison to the older styles makes the ride much more comfortable--it's not steel, but it's not a rock either.  Also, with the thinness of the seat post, the seat on the bike will have a little more give/movement so it won't be as rigid as I think it might be. Weight was another issue to be considered.  The aluminum frame is lighter than steel, plain and simple, and with the amount of schtuff I have to haul any extra help I can get in the weight department is helpful.  Above all, after Jasper's careful scrutiny and pondering on my behalf he suggested this bike above any of the others he knew about; it fit in my price range, had the capabilities for road and off road, is durable, has a lifetime warranty, etc.  I trust his judgment 100%.  If all else fails and I don't like it, I'm built like a Clydesdale and will kick his ass.