I have two custom frames: I ride the p*** out of both of them.

My Davidson has 7,000 miles, is starting to accumulate a robust collection of scratches. It gets ridden in all kinds of weather.

My Boedie is my daily commuter - rain or shine, 52 weeks a year. It's also my winter rain bike. Occasionally I send the builder photos of the bike covered in dirt and grime, just to see if I can get his goat. However, he makes mountain bike frames, too, so nothing seems to bother him. Last time I sent him a picture of my bike after I'd had it on some mild dirt paths, he sent back an email: "Road bikes ridden in the dirt -- I like that."

My Tommasini, on the other hand -- only ridden on dry roads, stored in a velvet-lined bike bag, sprinkled with rose petals each morning, only washed with holy water straight from the Vatican. I bought it off Craigslist for $600 and I treat it much nicer than my other bikes. Go figure.