I have been cycling since the early 80's. I was a marathon runner but tore my knee up over time. The doctor told me my running days were over and that I should either swim or ride a bicycle. I don't particularly care for swimming so I went to Sears and bought a bicycle.

At first, I would ride 2 or 3 miles and really enjoyed it. Eventually, I wanted to ride more because it was fun but I didn't enjoy my butt hurting. I went to a local bicycle shop and asked them what I should do. They told me about padded bicycle shorts so I bought a pair. Oh my! The difference was unbelievable.

As a result, I noticed that I would go for a ride and start pushing a little farther. I was riding 5 miles, then 10 and up to 20 and 30 miles. One day, I had a flat tire on a ride and was 10 miles from home. The 80's were not the days of cell phones so I had to walk back. It was not fun.

I made a trip back to the bicycle store the next day and got a seat pack and outfitted it with a flat kit and other tools I might need on a long trip. Thank goodness I did because I had 2 flats the very next day, but I was not prepared for what happened on a 30 mile ride one very hot day.

I was 15 miles from home and on a very lonely stretch of country rode. I was riding up a hill but staying down on the seat when the seat post snapped in half. Talk about an uncomfortable 15 mile trip home.

The next day my new best friend, Mike, at the bicycle store told me that I was becoming serious enough about riding that I should think about upgrading to a better bike. When I saw that a better bike had a price tag of around $700(remember this was the 80s), I almost fainted. Of course, I knew he was right because riding great distances at higher speeds puts a lot of strain on the frame and components and only a quality built bicycle would hold up to the stress.

I decided to buy a Centurion Ironman Triathlon and I loved it. The ride was smoother and the bike held up for many many years. In fact, I did not get a new bicycle until 2003. I loved that bike and i still have it hanging up in my storehouse. Mike was right. If you are going to ride you need a quality machine. I defintiely got my moneys worth out of that bike.

In 2003, I got a new bicycle. It is a Specialized Sequoia Expert. It is a road bike but it has the capabilities to be outfitted for touring. I have taken the bike across the state of Georgia, on a few 300 miles tours, and a number of centuries such as the Hotter N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is nowhere near time to get a new bike. I figure I will continue to ride it for a few more years.

If you are reading this and you are have caught the road bicycling bug, you will want to upgrade. You might have to pay over $1000 for an entry level bike but it will pay for itself in unneeded repairs and, most importantly, doctor fees, because your health will keep you out of the doctor's office.

There are lots of great bicycles out there. Specialized is good. I can recommend it because I ride one. Trek is probably the best known ciompany because of Lance Armstrong. A little known but fantastic company is Cadillac Bicycles and the list goes on and on. Schwinn still makes a great bike as does Mongoose and others listed below.

There are links all over this article leading you to many places to check out good bicycles so go ahead and have fun looking.