RS> Roger on that. Some of these guys who call themselves serious cyclists
 RS> sound like overgrown children with too much money to spend. Then there
 RS> are those of us who are serious enough in our intent, but low on
 RS> Finances, abilities, or know how. My old Trek 850 is getting a little
 RS> old and needs to be taken in to the shop for rejuvenation. Just can't
 RS> seem to scrape together the amount of money needed. Being a retiree on
 RS> a fixed income and below the poverty level doesn't help. 
 
 Cycling does not have to be expensive, My father stoped at a gas 
 station and noticed a 1940's style bike in the dumpster.  He asked
 the owner if he could have it, and the guy said yes.   This is a big
 heavy single speed cruiser but works just fine.   
 My road bike is a Panasonic 12 speed from the mid 80's, I ride it
 hard and long.  Since I ride it hard I know I must replace the chain,
 freewheel, Bearings and a few other parts every year.  I have a small but
 growing number of bicycle tools and try to do most of my own work
 to keep cost down.   There are two things I could do to cut my cycling
 budget way down: (1) stop riding hard, I would not go through as many 
 parts.  (2) Go back to 10 speed non-index shifting bikes or ride beach
 cruiser type bikes.   
 
 There is a cost to riding fast on a light weight quality bike, I wish 
 that were not true.   But there are so many old dependable bikes  
 available at little or no cost, anybody can afford to be a cyclist.
 
 
 John O'Neill
 
... I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance. 
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
--- TriToss (tm) Professional 10.0 - #12
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