Tape > grips on the RB021? (in terms of appearance)

Functionally and aesthetically, yes.

Tape. A good compromise between the two is lizardskins DSP tape whose wet and dry grip is actually comparable to legitimate grips.

They look comfy, don't know if I wanna drop 25 bucks on bar tape though.

You won't need a full package for those (assuming you don't want to wrap end to the exact center, which would use about 3/4 of a package). So you can split it with a friend, or save half for another time.

Why not? You dropped $50+ on good handlebars. Wrap them in good tape.

Because I still need a stem to go with my bars :( I typed "stem" into both L.A. and O.C. Craigslist and no one has a 26.0 1' quill... so on that note, would I be better off getting an Origin8 stem or spend $20 more for a Dia Compe Gran Compe?

Edit: I was originally trying to keep it under $30, but I've read some bad things about the Origin8 quill stem...

If you don't have tapered steerer tube problems like I did, I would just wait it out on CL. Pretty sure you could find a Cinelli 1A/1R, Nitto Pearl/Dynamic/Deluxe, 3TTT, or SR stem eventually for as much or even less than the cheap Origin8 stem.

Never give your money to Origin 8. Get the dia compe, you will not regret it. Not to mention it's dirt cheap compared to what I've purchased in the past.
You can also scrounge up a used nitto quill stem on fleabay on the cheap; you can't go wrong with nitto either.

Gettin' to be time.

You can always force the nittos into a 25.4 stem by prying it open with a screw driver, I did it on my nittos and rode it like that for a long time

Try LAfixed

Should i get underarmour compression tights for the cold?
idunno how i feel about shorts under tights but it seems hard to find tights with chamois <$100

Check Nashbar.

Its really more of a question of is tights over shorts crap or should i get ones with chamois?

I just think proper tights would get the job done better.

No love for bibs/ thermal bibs?

I ride with skins tights over shorts and can ride in the 30s just fine. Colder than that usually means inclement weather and I'm in snow pants and on the mtb.

If you're commuting just wear jeans, it doesn't get that cold in SI does it? For training get legwarmers or long bibs and use embro.

its a different world down here, totally different ecosystem than the rest of the boroughs i feel so it does get pretty cold
jeans have been fine so far but i feel like im gonna need more once it goes under 40, plus i dont want to kill the 2 pairs of jeans i ride in after a month or 2 more of commuting

im thinking that the UA tights would pull double duty when im hiking up in the gunks in the frozen woods this winter as well
i totally agree that proper tights/bibs would do the best job but im not sure how much riding im gonna actually end up doing (read: have time for) this winter either

i think my main fear is that lycra on lycra is gonna be all slippery between my bum and the saddle

Never had a problem with this in my countless miles, even with a brooks under the helm. In fact I've found it to be even grippier on suede saddles than jeans.

Should I get an iPhone 5 or renew my T Mobile contract and get a Samsung Galaxy S3?

This is literally the toughest decision I've had to make in a while.

my experience with tmobil was hellish, get out yesterday.

that being said my 2.5 years with my iphone 3gs has been magical, and im still waiting for my 5 to get shipped (grr)

i say iphone + new provider

(zero experience with galaxy 3)

I've had T Mobile for many years and have never had anything to complain about.

I've also been really happy with my Android (Samsung Vibrant) for the past year and a half, although it has been slowing down and messing up a bit lately (like it knows it's on the way out). Angie has an iPhone 4 through her work and it's cool but I'm not entirely sold on iOS.

I've been reading so many head-to-head reviews today, my head is spinning.