But today was a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Threatening, but a break in the rain. So I go out for a two hour ride. After an hour it starts POURING. I mean SHEETS of rain. I cut the ride short. I rode in the heavy rain for about 20 mins. When I got home I spent the better part of an HOUR cleaning the bike, drivetrain, wheels, etc. Jeez what an incredible mess that 20 mins. made out of my Cdale. I had the time today. I don't always have more than 10 mins. to wipe the bike off after rides like that.

After a year of that kind of abuse, the bike will be cosmetically challenged. Compared to how I would LIKE to keep my 'good' bike. Which is why I'll get another in about a year - and keep THAT bike perfect. And the current bike will be the future 'beater'. It's not there yet. But it's tough.

If you ride 5K miles a year and don't take your 'good' bike out that much in the slop (most of my riding pals fall into this category) it works. If you ride twice that and take the 'good' bike into the slime on a regular basis - no amount of maintenance will offset the gradual cosmetic wear this imposes on a bicycle. Sorry. I know something about this after 20+ years. You can wash, wax and degrease the bike until your hands dissolve. It does help. But rust never sleeps boys.

So another bike is inevitable. Which is perfect because it will give me more fodder for Bike Forum rants in the future. And don't think I'm not looking forward to the dopey responses from tdarren, Euro and Macca - AND the EXCELLENT hate mail that goes along with it. That's the most entertaining part : ).