I hope it's okay that I up and joined this group and now I'm barging in on your conversation

Kissybiz, I have to second DenverKos - you might want to sell the carbon bike and replace it with something that makes you happier -- unless you really love the carbon bike and can't bear the thought of parting with it, in which case you might roll on down to the shop with it and see if they can adjust it a bit to make it more comfortable for you.

If you do replace the bike, a 'cross bike like DenverKos has might be a great option. Usually, a cyclocross rig will offer a little bit more relaxed and upright position, and it'll let you run 'skinny' road tires or slightly wider knobbies. A friend of mine runs up to 40mm tires with studs on his 'cross bike in the winter to compensate for our less-than-expert road clearing crews (I live in Louisville; we try hard, but having grown up in CT, I can say we're just not as well-equipped and capable down here in the Northern-Southern-Eastern-Midwest).

It's awesome that you're getting back into riding! I missed it like crazy during my off-bike periods last year (torn rotator cuff in February, mono in the beginning of Fall semester, ugh).

DenverKos, your story sounds an awful lot like mine It's amazing how addictive bikes become. Right now my stable includes the old GT hybrid that got me into serious riding, a classic Specialized Allez, and my road warrior, a Fuji Roubaix built up for racing (19.10 lbs; I could shave more weight off the bike but I figure I'll shave it off me first ). I ride the Fuji everywhere and take it out on club rides on the weekends; I'm hoping to actually race it this spring. Back in 2010, I did my first race -- a cyclocross race -- on the GT, and because I registered months ahead of time I got a first-row call up with all these guys on their super-slick 'cross machines, LOL.

I planned to buy a 'real' 'cross bike for the 2011 season, but instead I got mono and had to sit out ... now that I'm better, I've ordered a 'cross bike which will also be a 'grocery getter,' a bad-weather commuter, a 'guest bike,' and my SO's road-ride (he owns a folding mountain bike, a classic tandem, and a couple of beaters that we take to Burning Man, and finds the Allez a bit scary).

I swear I can quit any time...

SwinginChandra -- I'm hoping to get a collegiate team going at my school (Indiana University Southeast), so if we ever get going I'll keep an eye out for you at Nationals

If you're looking for some motivation, check out: http://www.fatcyclist.com/
He's not very "fat" anymore, but it's funny, lots of good tips, and Twin Six makes their gear (my absolute favorite cycling attire creator!).

If Walmart doesn't have one, your local hardware store might - but again, any bike shop should have it usually in a little bucket at the register.
Or, check out Performance Bicycles website and order it. Like I said, it costs like a dollar, so you'll probably end up paying more in shipping than for the adapter....but, you really shouldn't need it if you have a floor pump. For on the bike, I carry a CO2 cartridge and a little nozzle that screws on the top; it goes right onto the valve to inflate the tire when needed, doesn't weigh much, and only costs a couple of dollars. I keep it in my pocket or seat bag and it's a lot smaller than a frame pump.

Some floor pumps that are supposed to fit both Presta and Schrader have a little internal bit that has to be flipped around. Do you happen to know which brand and model you have (it may seem like a silly question, but the shop where I occasionally work has at least one without any brand markings, etc)?

For what it's worth, you do need to unscrew the little nut at the end of the Presta valve in order to get air into and out of it. The first time I did this, I thought I'd broken my valve, since once you unscrew it the threaded rod inside -- I think that's the core -- has some side-to-side play in it.

Basically, the Presta valve a threaded rod running down the middle of the valve stem that I think is attached to some kind of gasket on the tube end. Pressure will keep the air from coming out when you unscrew the nut, but if you tap the very end of it with your finger and a gust of air shoots out, you're ready to rock. Just make sure to screw it back down once you're done inflating the tube, or anything that bumps into it runs the risk of reducing your tire pressure, which can lead to pinch flats (and, of course, truncated rides).

I'm going to try to draw an ascii graphic of a presta valve now. Don't laugh at me too hard

.. <---- the very end of the core (the threaded rod inside the valve)
|||| <---- locknut at end of valve stem: grab it by the grippy surface and unscrew (gently) to inflate or deflate
| | <---- valve stem: may be threaded or unthreaded
| |
| |
| | <---- these come in various lengths; my shop always seems to carry only 'way too short' and 'ridiculously long'
| |
| |
| |
=== <--- weird little bottom lockring (if stem is threaded) that comes in handy for keeping a deflated tube in place but otherwise doesn't do much (some people take them off, some leave them on; it's totally a matter of personal preference -- I leave mine on in winter in hopes that it might help keep corrosive slush out of my wheels

I hope this is at least somewhat useful! Also, I hope my attempted graphic renders reasonably well. Good luck!

One really last bit. If you do find that you must order a valve stem adapter, there's a neat bullet-shaped one that comes with a built-in keyring so you can just slip it into your keys. It's more expensive than the others, but if you get it from Amazon with free shipping, it might work out more or less the same.

http://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Presta-Adapter-Key-Chain/dp/B003CO95ES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327195844&sr=8-1

If your local bike or sports shop has the plain ones in stock for a buck or two, though, I'd just go with one of those.