[COLOR= #0000ff]Hi, Guys![/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]I'm so excited to read your answers here! I'll reply to you all together, if you don't mind, since I'm under the weather and my meds will kick in any moment. (Better living through chemistry, I always say. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/tongue.gif)[/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]Calico -- I had wondered if tires might be one of the answers that popped up, so that didn't surprise me. What I DIDN'T know, though, was that they could be swapped out easily. How cool is that! So I wouldn't necessarily need different bikes for different activities, if all that differed was the road type. Cool![/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]Dave, a saddle was the first thing I thought of when I asked myself the question. I'm shopping as we speak for a new one. I was quite happy -- though uncomfortable -- on my cruiser's thick, over-padded seat --- until I figured out that it didn't HAVE to chafe and hurt that way, lol. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/redface.gif So I can't wait to get a better one and see how that improves the ride.[/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]BHOFM, that statistic is impressive, that with your new one you could ride almost twice as far. That's encouraging, because here lately it isn't my legs that give out on me when I've gone far enough, it's just that I can't stand to SIT on it any longer, lol. I need to work up to 4 hours a day for the bike tour, per their suggestion, so being able to sit on it is crucial. [/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]McLoki, I didn't know that the seat and the stem were the two most replaced parts used to personalize a bike! See how good y'all are for me? I'm learning, I'm learning! And you CAN make the stem your choice, because it looks like almost everything anybody posts might be related to fit! I guess that only makes sense, since if you don't wanna sit on it, it doesn't matter if everything else works![/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]And Dave, you changed your choice (I won't tell Mrs. Dave, lol) from the saddle to the brakes. I am assuming that's for safety reasons? Is one type of brake better than another? Dear Hubby likes it when I tell him a bike has disc brakes, but -- bless his heart -- isn't good at explaining why he likes some things better than others. When I test-rode some bikes at REI, I nearly threw myself head-first over the handlebars the first time I used the hand brakes; all I've ever used was pedaling backward, lol. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/redface.gif So I'll have to be careful learning to use those things. [/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]Thanks for the input, y'all! We have the tires, the saddle, the stem, and the brakes -- all answers that I kind of expected, but am also surprised at because I figured people would be on here clamoring for their favorite gear system or component or widget. Maybe that's to come yet -- or maybe it really is all about fit! We'll see.[/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff]Have a great evening, y'all. And thanks! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/tongue.gif[/COLOR]