terribly unreliable on updating, but heres more!

i havent updated this [poor excuse for a] blog in a bit, and this one post shalt not deal in the poor realm of emotion.  its more on the crap of bike crap.

i need a new frame; the cannondale R600 or whatever crap 'cross-train' bike that i got for such a good deal doesnt really fit and it both hurts and pisses me off -- so now im drooling over modestly priced, adequate bikes.  billy previously suggested a soma double cross for himself and im starting to think he's a genius.  it looks like a solid bike, built like a tank, and takes all the crap that i would like to put on it.  its either that or the surly cross check but honestly surly makes enough profit as is, so ill give my money elsewhere.

so the next questions is, "what can i salvage, what should i replace?"  hefty question.

-- salvage drive train and crankset.  
they need replacin' but i dont have the money for it.  im going to give the rear cassette a good cleaning today and see if i cant get a new chain.  should help a lot.

-- keep same old wheels, throw down on some new tires.  $40-50 total.  get some continentals.

-- keep handlebars
-- keep brake levers and front brake.  
-- new rear brake, avid shorty -- $25.
-- new stem ~$30
-- same shifters and deraillers, as long as they work.

-- new frameset.  $400.

summary:
$400 frameset, $25 brake,  $30 stem, $50 new tires.  total of about $500.