^
I know one local rando, currently at R-32 (I think) that uses a basket for his "handlebar bag". If I recall correctly, he got the idea from seeing a blog post by a rando elsewhere in the county.
Handlebar bag will NOT keep the wet out. If you do 200k rides, eventually you WILL get rained on.
Snacks. That's what the back pockets are for.
Bags -- well-folded-up jacket and/or other weather gear; spare folding tyre (I needed one of those -- or a really good boot on the first Permanent I ever did -- a buddy was extremely glad I carried a spare on a recent 208 km perm); chamois cream / lube of your choice; chain lube; perhaps a nearly empty tube of grease; you wear glasses or contacts? -- small eye-drops container; money; ID; control card; and if you don't have a saddle-bag -- tools to change a flat, etc..
Homeyba will likely tell you that you don't need all the above. But carefully chosen and packed, it doesn't take up THAT much room or weigh that much. Besides, at the pace he rides, problems can't catch him.
Just about any bike is going to weigh less than 37 lbs.
And have, or can have, drop bars.
I use 105 brifters paired with Ultegra front & rear derailleurs.
Others use brifter or down-tube shifters or bar-end shifters of various quality and make.
But the reliability is mostly a function of maintenance and proper matching of components.
Talk to Gary at TLC-4-Bikes. Tell him your budget. He may, or may not, be able to come up with a solution that fits your budget.
The suggested list price on the Corsa Strada frame is $900. I'm not sure what the lugs add to the list price.
Probably about $300, I think.
Is the LOOK worth $300.
I'm pretty sure the "modern" incarnation of Motobecane are just names painted or stamped on a Chinese-made frame.
If I'm wrong ... won't be the first time.
These days, most lower end frames are made in China.
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But, in the end, sounds like you WANT that Motobecane.
WANT overrides everything else.
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Perhaps I'll see you at a permanent or a brevet in the somewhat near future.
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Bikes with basket saga:
http://sagittandy.blogspot.com/2010/...of-autumn.html
http://sagittandy.blogspot.com/2010/...h-baskets.html