Howdy. I finally upgraded to a nice bike. Not a super bike, but a decent ride. Got me a 2014 Felt Z5. Fits well, everything (mostly) works. Did my 1st century on it last weekend, pleased as punch. Except. Stuff keeps FALLING OFF. Yeah. About 1/2 way through a 100k last weekend, PLOP. There goes my front caliper. Good thing I carry cable ties, they kept it on the bars for the remaining 33mi. Got it to the dealer the next Monday, they found some new hardware and put it all back together. Rode a couple of short spins during the week, then Friday I was packing it up to go to Austin and ride the Shiner G.A.S.P. Pulled the rear wheel, looked down at the cassette and there was a lil' circle thing that shouldn't ought to be there. Looked, scratched my head, didn't think too much of it. Little while later it dawned on me that the lil' circle thing was 1/2 of the the hardware that holds the rear derailleur hanger in place. The other half is somewhere in Texas, Arkansas or Louisiana. Arrrgh. To the shed, steal one off the Trek tandem, install the nice pretty blue partand go ride the event. Got to listen to the incessant squeal of the front hub? rear hub? cassette? Again. For 100 miles. Sigh.

So, enough of my grouching (thanks for listening, I feel much better now. ) Is this how it is when you drop the bucks for a new bike? Maybe I just learned my lesson. Buy old.

Thanks to all of ya'll.

Harold