Thanks everyone for the great responses! I am liking this place already,


The Chazy bike is out of the equation. I called yesterday and got the "Wow dude, like really sorry, I sold that, like a while ago" speech.

As much as I like the Ogre, I think it is in my future, not my present. I have heard about the Muir Woods and will do some looking. It looks like it might fit my latest line of thinking

Another bike that popped up is the Jamis Coda, since there is a dealer right in Plattsburgh, i will try and get a look at them also. Both the Muir and the Coda appear similar.

After my post about the Schwinn, i got to thinking about where bikes have come from, where they are, and where they are going. I rode that bike twelve miles a day to school and back everyday, rain, snow, heat, except for big snow and monsoons and all summer long. Granted that was long ago.

No discs brakes, no indexed shifting, no gear indicators, no carbon, no alimnum, you get the idea.

I have been asking questions, but I have been reading a ton here too. It seems the consensus is that if you are going to ride on the road lock-out suspension is a good idea. Also, bikes in my price range don't come with great suspension.

What I see is many manufacturers trying to incorporate their whiz bang high tech features into their lower priced bikes. At the cost of other componentry. I am not immune to marketing, and coming form the motorcycle side. The disc brakes seemed a logical evolution. But I found myself asking, do I really need them? And at what cost.

I survived quite well with 1972 brakes and only almost got killed once when a car decellerated quickly on a fairly steep downhill and made a hard right hand turn just after passing me in a downpour without signaling. That was forty years ago and I can still see it vividly in my minds eye. I clamped on the brakes, and nothing. The guy turned, and I managed to not wad myself up under his back right wheel/bumper. But it was more god luck than good management.

My point is, at fifty-four years of age, and scaling in at two hundred and fifty pounds. Do I really need all this high tech mojo? If I hit the trails, my fitness level will limit my speed on the uphill sections. And my skill level will limit my speed on the downhills. And things like suspension will just weigh me down even more on the pavement.

I find I have a better success rate if I wade in slowly and acclimateto the waters, than when I just dive in and realize I am in the wrong pool.

I must have read twenty-five reviews about the Coda Sport and Coda Comp last night. And everyone was glowing. Basically stating, that the Coda is nothing fancy, just an all around nice bike to ride. Not too many cool gizmos, just a nice bike. I figure if I find the experience pleasurable, I am much more likely to stick with it, and get over that beginner's hump. If I get really into it, I hope to have a solid platform to build from. And not have to upgrade every year when the manufacturers release their next newest must have gizmo.

I don't see myself as being much of a group rider. I am not on the motorcycle, so I imagine that will follow suit on a bicycle. I tend to be sort of a loner in that respect. I like to go where I want, and do what I want to do. If I see a road that looks cool, I want to be able to turn onto it. Without having to explain my reasoning to ten other people.

I am not in this for other people. I am in it for myself. I need the exercise badly. At this age, I figure it's now or never.