Someday I'm going to buy that $1500 Hetchins while in England visiting my best friend, pack it up, bring it home and just stare at it. Love me some curly lugs, oh yes I do . If I $3000 for bikes, I guess I could get one of those and a 1930's Roadster and... and... <drifts off>

Rivendell, schmivendell. I like vintage things for the same reason Zaphod does (though I'm not one of those Seattle reuse nazis who refuse to buy anything new, ever. New has its place). I'm typing this in my "vintage" home, sitting on a 1960's cream velvet sofa I got *for free* with said vintage house. All I had to do was restuff the cushions with new foam, and in the spring I'll have it cleaned, and it's sweeeet. Downstairs I have new-ish leather sofas from a big box store. It all works, depending on its use and my needs. Vintage bikes are a pain, because you can't just walk up to it (generally) and ride away and have it be "perfect" the way a Rivendell bike would be. Call them up and tell them all about yourself and pay them $3000 and they'll make a bike that's probably going to fit you, look cool to your friends and be low-maintenance for a long time.

On the other hand, my Panasonic looks cooler, rides well and has been fun to play with. By the time I'm done, I could still buy another 8 of them and not pay as much as a Rivendell.