Thanks, everyone, for your input, which I appreciate and am grateful for. I was hoping it would be some improvements that I could do to learn about fixing bikes. I have been wanting a worksman bike for a while though, and I am telling myself in for a penny, in for a pound. So I might order one so I can be completely confident that it will be safe. If I fell while riding I would probably break a bone or dislocate something. So spending the extra money might save on hospital bills. :-) I guess I could go to a bike shop and order a worksman. There is a bike shop in a neighboring town that has group rides in better times and I am hoping to find a community of cyclist to join who won't make fun of me. And $1000 isn't so much when I think of the health benefits of cycling. Thanks again. Reading your thoughts has convinced me that I need to not take safety for granted. :-)