Great story - it is good to have friends into cycling.

2+ years ago when I decided to get back into cycling, I consulted a friend at work who had many bikes. After months of talking, he brought in a Gunnar Crosshairs and asked me if I wanted to buy it. $1000 was my budget and although this bike was set up with full ultegra and Race Lite wheels, he'd sell it to me for that.

For 3 months I stared at that bike in his office and hounded him with questions every day while I saved my cash to buy. Finally, I told him I had the money. He took the bike home that night to "change the stem" and returned the next day carrying a hardly used Trek 5500 frame. I ooh'd and awed and asked him what he was doing with it. He said he was going to pull the parts off the Gunnar and sell it....to me.

In the end I got a mint condition, fully built 5500 for $1000. That was the start of the madness.

55/Rad