I rode the bike that I knew was what I wanted in 1989. A steel forked Merlin. That as a custom road bike would be it. Well, 18 years went by before I could justify a $4000 bike. When I could, I lived in Portland, OR and TiCyles had made me several stems, I got to see their work up close in progress and talk to owners if the bikes. Going with them was a no-brainer but if I could have had Merlin make it 25 years ago, I'd still be riding it.

And my most fun bike, the 2011 TiCycles fix gear is really just a ti framed road racing fix gear, as if derailleurs had never been invented. Not hard for me to imagine this bike still being a blast to ride as along as a I can still throw my leg over a saddle. If I got this bike 40 years ago, I would see no reason to change much of anything. Granted, it does have a few parts I really like that weren't available then, but I would have worn out the older parts long ago anyway.

My other bikes are built up around: a 1979 custom built for me, an '83 Trek 420 frame and a '73 Raleigh Competition frame.

One reality for me is that stock frames are rarely great fits. Paying good money for an "A" level bike with "B" level fit doesn't appeal to me. My customs and the bikes that I have held on to have "A" quality fits. I'll just tweak them and perhaps get another to do something those bikes aren't good at. (Maybe. I might just keep my life simpler and just enjoy these superb rides.)

Ben