Well, best of luck to you, dirtbikedude. The others have brought up some valid points, to be sure. Some roadies are elitist, there is no question about that...but I have been lucky enough to get hooked up with a great bunch of riders at my LBS. I just started riding a year ago last April, but these folks have always taken great care of me. Even tho I am still about the slowest rider of the bunch, they always keep an eye on me. They have always gone out of thier way to make me a part of everything they do. Oh, yeah, and during the fall/winter, we do road bike rides on Saturdays, and mtn bike on Sundays! It is my wish that everyone would be lucky enough to get hooked up with a group like this! Find ya a group you are comfortable with, and get out there and have some fun!