eventually we put a new chain on my Raleigh M80...circa 1996...and tuned her up. we did a couple rides at Fairland Park...which is nice considering how close it is to both of us. on one of our rides...i tried his Jamis Dragon Exile 29er...and immediately decided that i needed a new MTB.
i visited a couple local bike shops...LBSs...and poked around the website for Bike's Direct...which has no name frames paired with name brand components for unbeatable prices. the only problem is that i would have had to partially assemble the bike and there's virtually no customer service from what i hear. unfortunately, Bike's Direct tainted my value evaluations at all the LBS's.
i had already been prepping (future) Dr. J that i was going to buy a new MTB...and the money had been saved...her only condition was that we are to have no more than 3 bikes in our storage room...her schwinn, my Raleigh, and my Felt F80 road bike already put us at the limit...she didn't care if i threw the Raleigh away, but no more than THREE bikes.
so we now have 4 bikes...OOPS! two weeks ago i found this sweet little monster on sale for 50% off...40% down on the retirement fund but 50% off on the bike...i think i'm getting ahead here! it's a 2007 Jamis Dakota Elite...way more machine than i deserve...but i just couldn't pass it up.
i think Kevin's disease has spread to me somewhat...but i'm pretty sure it's not terminal..........yet
