I joined BF to post in this thread.
I bought a $1,500 Trek bike because it was on special and the sign said it was list price $2,000 and it seemed like a good deal.
I only rode it first because my friend said it was a good idea.
I didn't look at any other bikes.
I didn't have the cash so I just put it on a credit card which will annoy me to pay off.
I scoffed at the salesman who told me I should buy a $150 light, thinking only a sucker would pay $150 for a bike light.
I bought a $30 light so I could use my rechargeable double A batteries at home and it was cheaper.
I crashed the 2nd night I rode it because I thought a curb was an entrance ramp to a bike path because the light wasn't bright enough and I couldn't tell the difference. I flipped over the handle bars and I'm pretty sure I bruised the bone in my butt because it's 3 weeks later and it still hurts a lot of the time. I think I had a mild concussion because i felt sluggish and groggy for a couple of weeks.
The day of the crash my girlfriend was happy that i bought a road bike because "it has to be safer than mtn biking." I agreed since I had crashed once mountain biking and she had to take me to the ER.
I still think I'm a reasonably intelligent person despite the above story.
The spell checker had to correct my spelling of intelligent.
I've spent more time watching cycling on USN than riding so far since I bought the bike.
I actually think I'm going to complete Ragbrai next summer. I had to look up how to spell Ragbrai.