Finally, I bought a road bike for quite some $$, which is a decision I have been hesitating over for a long time. The following is some mental wrestling before buying this:

 

A: A road bike is not cheap, man. A decent one easily goes up to $1000 or much more. And you are not sure how long you gonna be in this country. You probably have to sell it when you move.

 

B: I know. But I gonna turn 28 very soon. Some day I will wake up and find myself in 30's --- and never seriously on a road bike. And, a bike is cheap compared with many things -- how much better a car can you get with an extra $1000? A sunroof may cost that much, but a bike opens up much more opportunities.

 

A: Well, age is no excuse. You can still ride your bike when you are older.

 

B: Yes, but I can never ride it as aggressively as I can today. It's sad to think about that.

 

A: You want too much, man. You shipped your mountain bike here 3 years ago, and you didn't ride it as much as you had expected.

 

B: That I admit. But think about the bikers you saw at the Rockies, or Mt. Rainier, or the coast of Olympics. Isn't that your dream to ride a bike through those breathtaking sceneries? Don't just think, do it, man! There are things you can never do at your 40s, or 50s, so do it as early as possible.