I'm currently working downtown, on a construction site near a main intersection. I've keeping my eyes open at what bikes go by. Most of the steel ones are from the 80s, Bianchi, Raleigh, etc, usually a little dirty, not polished, with Shimano or Suntour. It's to be expectable because most people don't ride show bikes as commuters.

Then one day I spotted a spectacular black steel lugged bike. Too far away to make out the name, looked like it might have been power coated without labels. It had chrome forks, seat stays and chain stays, also chromed lugs. It was polished and blinding in the sun as it rode through the intersection, with shinny silver components, possible nova record.

I turned and said to the young co-worker beside me, "look at that bike, beautiful, I've got a bike like that too, with lots of chrome, except mine is champagne colored".

He says, "Oh yeah, an antique steel bike".

Made me realize, I'm getting old and steel bikes are very old in some peoples eyes. I don't think I'll be bragging to young people that I have a steel bike anymore.