Replies are a lot more civilized than what I expected. Not a lot of vitriol. A minimum of snake oil. A maximum of humor. Great!!

To elaborate on a couple of points: Yes, I now own two road bikes. Both are carbon frame bikes. One is Shimano 105 and the other is Ultegra. I really enjoy both of them. Which one is smoother and more fun has more to do with the mechanic that made the last adjustment than anything else. I still haven't solved the seat thing so neither is very pain free on longer rides, which for me are rather short, ranging from the mid-20s to mid-60s miles.

Yep, mountain biking is fun. But, all the guys I see doing it and who are "mature" seem to end up having at least one body part in a cast sometime during our short cycling season.

I've tried cycling at night. But, it was too cold and the meese got in the way. (Meese is plural of moose?) Besides, frost bite of THAT body part is not a nice thing.