Not exactly C&V but a gateway: my first steel frame since Trek 560 in college. I had just moved to NYC for a job and wanted a bike. Bought a Cannondale R800 on impulse and it only took one ride to see NYC streets and stiff aluminum don't mix. Mr C's in Brooklyn took back the R800 and transferred the whole Ultegra kit onto a Ciocc frame (Dedacciai Zero Uno) that's still the best-riding bike I have. They probably made decent money on that transaction but I was grateful anyway.
