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As someone in a technical job making way more than a book publisher would ever pay him, I have to say that I've been through the same situation. Unfortunately, I wasn't as persistent as Philip in insisting on a skinny book. (I had 200 pages of material, they insisted on 400 filled with illustrations).Unfortunately, I also had a day job that I refused to put down for the book, so eventually missed enough deadlines ( mainly because of the insane page count) that the book was cancelled.
A sobering experience, but a lesson well learnt. I wondered whether getting a book published would make me feel better, but now that I've seen what Philip's been through, I doubt it.
Congratulations, though. I'm going to buy a copy just out of sympathy!
I hate it when people who've never ridden a properly set up road bike talk about how uncomfortable they are. Most people who have trouble with road bikes just don't have them setup right. I ride road bikes off road just fine, and my road bike has probably seen more off-road action than 90% of mountain bikes out there. Nothing stops you from using SPD pedals and Camelbaks on road bikes, though I've found regular waterbottles to be convenient.If you want a different opinion on how to get started on cycling, try reading my article on starting up . I've ridden tens of thousands of miles on road bikes and never had a problem.
Ultimately, it's a matter of preference, but if you come from a mountain biking background, try a road bike at a good local shop that knows how to set you up. You'll see what I mean. It's like flying without having to burn gas.