Well Folks?..I thank you all very much as great suggestions with solid points were made by all...which at first seemed to confuse me even more but like I initially indicated?...this is just me "Planning For The Future"...and?..."Trying To Stay Motivated"....that said?...at the end of the day?....I have concluded the following....
Maybe Santa will bring me a new bike for Christmas!
My reasoning?....that last post bruised responded with made a lot of sense to me because...
1. If I do shell out for a new high-end group-set for my old bike?...I still have just one old bike with real nice hardware. LOL!
and not that "That's a bad thing" but....
2. For the same money I could have a 2nd....."NEW BIKE"....with real nice 11 year newer everything including wheels.
and finally?...
3. Despite it's age?...everything on my old giant still works just fine and it was just weeks ago I had a brand new Sora Front Derailleur installed (to replace the old broken one) and the bike dons a brand new chain as well and?...
To take care of the "Keeping Me Motivated" part?...
I just dropped $160 on my first ever set of clip-less pedal and shoes...for the old giant...and that "all-new-too-me" upgrade alone has my heart pumping just thinking about getting out on it today...along with my new Catseye Padrone wireless speedo/odo/trip thingy.
Now it looks like the two primary brands that the LBS that I like to patronize (cause they've been great, friendly and very accommodating to me thus far) carry (that would include models they stock well within my price range) are "Specialized" & "Bianchi"....they also carry "Raleigh"....and considering the condition of my local roads?....(and sometimes the lack thereof? LOL!)....I haven't even ruled out getting into something of a slightly different flavor...matter fact?...I'm thinking it might just be optimum for me to deck out a cyclocross type bike as a "light touring/commuter"....would that make sense?
again...thanks for all the great thoughts, points and suggestions, Bill.
