Good News:
I am back on the bike; I actually have been since yesterday. I am still feeling “it” whatever “it” was that infested my body for almost a week. I have been slowing upping the miles again to where I was before “it” landed in my lungs. I swear even when I smoked and had bronchitis an infinite amount of times every year, my lungs didn’t hurt quite this bad. I did notice something, or rather I finally realized something, this morning while riding and my mind was wandering whilst Suicidal Tendencies pumped into my ears via I-pod. I can’t remember the last time my back or my knees hurt? It may sound odd but when I was at the 300 pound mark I would have to take aspirin or ibuprofen every day to cope with the pain in my knees. Granted I have a good excuse for the knee problems, its equal parts soccer + 3 ACL reconstructions = bad knees. I know the weight that crashed down on them every step didn’t help anything, hell I will go out on a limb and say it may have made the knee problems worse. The point I am trying to make is since I have lost a fair amount of weight the knee problems have magically vanished as have the constant nagging back pain. This is good news.
Bad News:
Specialized Carbon Dream Machine….probably not going to happen anytime soon or anytime not so soon either. I may be looking at a different model due to the fact I had to shell out a ton of cash to fix my pile of crap car. I was really close to having the cash to pick it up but with that and the rising cost of tuition for the kids….nay. I am trying to keep a good attitude about it though at least I will be getting a nice bike that fits me which is kinda good news? I have found a machine that is still in the Specialized Endurance Road category that I think will be a good fit. More to come at a later date.
Goodish, Baddish News:
Tomorrow I am going to post a pictorial piece I will call “Stuff that does not fit anymore” I will outline for all the stuff I love that no longer fits, for example my “Kiss me I’m Shitfaced” Dropkick Murphy’s t-shirt. This is but one example you will see more tomorrow.
100 Pounds Ago 
Glad to her your coming around. I see the Infectious Disease Specialist today ad hopefully get the green light for work again. I figure if I can work, I can ride.
Don’t sweat the new bike too much. Put the money into a great frame, and if you have to compromise, look at the components. Today’s Shimano 105 is a better group than the Dura-Ace of 10 years ago. The kids gotta have shoes.
Keep it going!
That is great that you are back riding.
That sucks about the Specialized purchase being put on the backburner due to silly family necessities. 😉
Have you considered looking on ebay? I have noticed that prices on used decent road bikes in the US are excellent. And I suspect that it will be easier to pick up a nice bike with winter coming along.