If rule minutia is the current subject, how important is the cost? What other judging criteria is there? How is the criteria weighted? Meaning what wins, a fugly POS that cost nothing or a gorgeous bike that cost $100? A non-ridable POS that cost nothing or something that rides for $100. Please note the dollar amounts I used are completely arbitrary.
The final "decision" will be based on the polls. So, with that, anything goes.
I kind of got slammed in the voting last year
, perhaps because it wasn't "vintage" enough, although I think my frame may well have been from the mid 90's, and parts probably covered at least 3 or 4 decades, and perhaps because some people thought I over-spent.
But, there were quite a few very nice bikes too and fierce competition.
By splitting categories, it will help keep one or two bikes from dominating everything.