I had to laugh, Bill, because you know your donor bike would be $50 with full Record...

OK, folks, you have spoken, here and in private.

The bike will be loaded with 8-sp Chorus (Ergo) and custom-built tubulars initially. The group is a proven performer for me, and the wheels, once I got Tufo S33 Pro's, are incredible-light, strong, precise. I'll look for a silver seatpost and already have the silver stem. I've not decided on Chorus calipers or C-Record Deltas, just to show them off.

At the same time, I'll be following the advice of several sages here on C&V, and putting together a 10-sp group in case I want to upgrade later. 10-sp Eurus wheels are great, but I'm not sure they are as good as the tubular set I have, and the idea of a sub-19lb bike kind of intrigues me. Besides, as Old Fat Guy told me..."having that 10-sp group means you're just a frame away from another bike. If opportunity knocks, you can open the door." Thanks also to those who sent me photos of SC's, as I was going to leave off the long seat tube decal/stripe until I saw it in the photos.

Part of it was ego. I can't build a prettier red/black bike than that Trek on the STI/Ergo thread, and I'd always feel inferior, for sure.

Now, if the bike looks like warmed-over dookie, I can blame you knuckleheads.