Upgrade was due

I finally broke down and decided it was time to replace some family members. It has taken me a few years to get around and do it but it was becoming time. The average age of my 2 bicycles is 22 years. Not bad really but since I have begun riding a bit more (health reasons) and the noises one of my bikes is making I thought why the heck not. I still have my racing bike which I rode while racing at LSU. I was out again yesterday and it s a real joy to just push lightly on the pedals and the bike just zips away. I had a general overhaul of it about 10 years ago and it has spent all of its quiet time in a dry cellar so it still rides really well. Only problem it has is it was purchased for the hill of LSU. That leaves me with one or two roads I can ride on here as everything else is uphill. The gears just kill me. I looked into changing that all out but it was going to be many $100s to get it done and racing is not what I really want to do.So, it was to my touring bike that the thoughts went. This bike probably has more than 15000 miles on it. It has been over some really huge mountains in Switzerland and has carried me across half of Germany. It was the daily workhorse for a long time. And it looks like it too. But itis beginning to need some replacement parts and I just couldn't figure it was worth keeing it another 10 years.So, the bike is ordered. Will be here in a week or so. This time a mountain bike with lots of little gears for climbing up our 1500 foot local hill. I look forward to getting out in the forest and enjoying some of the area I have yet so really see in the 15 years I have lived in Wiesbaden. Ofcourse, a cross-Alps tour might also have to be in the planning sometime too.....we'll see.More later. Yes, everyone else here has not been traded in and is enjoying the last summer break before school starts.