I just returned from a two-day bike tour. I lent a friend of mine a bike because he just flew in from LA and didn't have one for the ride.

I was reminded that above all else - above bike type, wheel size, frame material, above brand name, above all else, the NUMBER ONE important thing to focus on when buying a bicycle is to get a bike that fits you.

A bike that is either too big or two small in any dimension will be either miserable or at least detract from the full enjoyment of the ride.

My poor friend had to ride 160 miles on a bike that was too small, and I could almost feel his pain.

Hopefully, you will log tens of thousands of miles on your bike. Make them pleasurable miles.