@ Kimba, best advice i can give you:
Sheldon Brown, Sheldon Brown, Sheldon Brown! Read, Read Read! He the MAN!
Yes i am a rabid fan.. and as for the fan thread, i made one and it is here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ldon+brown+fan
Oh and uhm, so you are single now huh... hmmm? Nah i am just joking ha ha!! I am not single. But it definately sounds like you are better of without the BF. Biking and bikes are more reliable than boyfriends and sometimes more fun ;-) Then again cuddling up with my frame doesn't feel so great.
As for competitive, this can be a good or bad thing.. to learn what i mean check out this long thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=drop+lance
Oh and while i am at it, i think i may as well shamelessly plug my site/articles on my bikes. Maybe my philosophy to bikes appeals to you or maybe not at all, but perhaps you might take something away from it. Especially if you want to build up (or have it build) a low cost but good quality bike.
http://www.rhizomes.nl/ultimatebike.html
http://www.rhizomes.nl/twenty.html
Best of Luck!