No one needs an excuse to buy a new bike...get out there and take some test rides.

I owned a Trek 560 Pro that was a bit small for me. I enjoyed it while I had it. It rode as nicely as any bike that I've owned. Even though I loaded it up with a heavy saddle, wide and cushy tires, gel bar tape, blinking lights, water bottle cages and BMX pedals, it still weighed under 23 pounds.

Looking at the HONEST weights given in "Cycling Plus", it turns out that many 2006 road bikes with steel frames come in at 21 or 22 pounds. And, so do some of the bikes with aluminum frames. The steel frame bikes that come in under 20 pounds tend to be ultra-expensive, as they use premium tubing, light carbon forks, carbon bars, etc.

A 200 pound rider who has been pushing 223 pounds up the hills while riding would have difficulty noticing the difference when he gets a new bike and is pushing 200 pounds up the hill. That 1% difference in weight is too small to notice.

Even though you are likely to enjoy your new bike a bunch, hang on to your Trek 560. It is a fine bike, and still can give you another decade or two of good riding.