Each of us might be filled day to day with various marketing promotions. The countless offers being chucked at us might result in information overload if we attempted to take care of each and every one of them. And since the vast majority of the promotions are usually rarely important, outdated rubbish or suspect value, most of us usually just pass over them, overlook them and search for the significant mail within the heap..

My problem: basically, I have no idea what the difference is. With, say, derailleurs, why would I want SRAM instead of Shimano? Is it just a build quality thing, or will I actually notice a difference? Are derailleurs like brakes in that there are multiple kinds with fundamentally different mechanisms of action, and, if so, which is better? Ditto for shifters, crankset, etc., etc. I don't mind paying the extra $200 if it's actually better, but I'm at the edge of my bike knowledge..

KATHY LAUER WILLIAMS enjoys all types of music, from roots rock and folk to