Originally Posted by RobbieTunes

Yeah, I'm married, too.


I like a lot of bikes. There sure are a lot of Madones on sale, lately, and white seems to be the new black.

There are some pseudo-modern bikes I consider already tending towards a C&V niche...
These prompt me to think "I'd get one if I came across one at a fair price..." Affordable enough to appeal to a broad swath of cyclists, quality enough for 99% of their intended market. I know I sure can't "outride" any of them.

The R700 2.8 Cannondale,
The Kestrel 200 series,
The Trek 5000/5200 OCLV,
The Surly LHT,
maybe a Douglas....

Some of the new wunder-bikes inspire amazement, and appreciation, but not yet the "I'll sell a few bikes and pick one up" feeling. They are way cool, way well done, and that new Trek tri-bike is to the bone, but will they become classics? I don't know.

I'd say the Cervelos are rapidly becoming the modern "classic" tri-bike. You say "P3, P2," etc, and people instantly know what you're talking about. Already a common term of endearment.

Now, price-comparison is a whole different bag. I don't think there's much argument that past products with an excellent frame and components are any less excellent now. Fewer bells and whistles, a little more attention needed when riding, but all-in-all, good stuff is good stuff. People like bells and whistles, though, and a lot of riders don't want to learn the skills needed to ride like norskagent on his McLean, smoothly running through the gears and ringing that bell...in a pace line....Market is one thing, and classic is sort of another. Classic is just part of the market, and it's fun.