MaddSkillz said:
My wife and I recently bought road bikes (about 2 weeks ago). So far, I've put on about 80 miles or so! I can't stop! Last weekend I put on 40 miles! And only put on about 30 miles this past weekend. I already want another bike! UGH! Here's my current ride.... 2007 Specialized Allez Elite Triple.
I've got to go clipless! My feet keep falling asleep after about 45 minutes on the bike! =(
Congrats, and welcome to the cycling world. Being able to hop on yer bike and pedal off in most any direction is pretty damned liberating and easy to become addicted to.
Regarding goin' clipless, you won't regret it. Despite what most people think, the efficiency (in terms of power transfer) difference between clipless pedals and pedals w/ cages and straps isn't that great. Clipless pedals do, however, increase the control you have over the bike and greatly improve how "connected" you feel to your machine. Clipless pedals also greatly improve your comfort.
As for bikes.....I'd put some miles on what you've got, now, before anteing up for another bike. Iffin' you search through threads here and at other cycling forums, you'll find that some of the most common questions are about what bike a person should buy, what is best, will a person like said bike, what tires should they get....and on and on and on. By sticking with the bike you've got now, you can focus on putting miles under your wheels, finding out what sort of riding you like, what you like and/or dislike about your bike and its components, what position on the bike works best for you, and get a better picture of what you'll really want or need in the future out of a bike.
I had a friend who started riding an old beater bike. He realized quickly that he loved riding and would want a better bike. He decided the best approach would be to put a dime in a jar for every mile he rode. Sure, that's not a lot, but his intention was that it would force him to really think about what he wanted, while motivating him to ride more.
So keep pedaling what you have. Pay attention to how it shifts, how it fits you, how just looking at it motivates you....yada yada yada. Also, use this time to learn how to work on the bike yourself. Actually one of the best things you can do is buy
Zinn & The Art of Road Bike Maintenance, by Leonard Zinn. It's one of the best bike repair tomes out there. A large number of cyclists--me included--find that doing their own work on their bikes just makes riding the bikes that much better. Also, before paying for a new scoot, you're probably better off figuring out what cycling accessories work best for you: shorts vs. bibs and which brand of each works best for you; shoes and pedal type; and etc.
Doing all this will have one great benefit: it'll allow you to be better informed when it comes time to get a new bike, and it will help insure that you end up with what you want as opposed to what others think you should have. More experience under yer belt will help you measure and filter advice from other cyclists.
No matter what, just get out there and pedal!
As a teaser, here's my scoot. It's my only bike, but it is as much of a dream bike as a bike could be for me. Riding it never gets old, and most days I can't wait to mount up and ride off. I recently gave my Mootsie an Easter present: a new seatpost, but I haven't gotten around to taking her picture with her new piece of kit.....
