There was a time when I sought out only the top dogs of any kennel and I did find some pretty nice, top of the line, vintage road bicycles. For example, the iconic Peugeot PX10...


But, for me and due to different things, I do not seek only the best. These days, old school lugged steel is my preference with cottered cranks, head badges and as much chrome as I can get...


It is just as much fun to find, restore and ride an entry level steed as it is to do the same for a top of the liner. My most recent example (the yellow Torpado above) was found (for free) and built up by me. No one else helped with the restoration. Paint by brush, used mostly what I had on hand that was period and/or model correct and paid for only what I really had to (in this case are from Velocals). The result, a heavy but beautiful (my opinion) entry level Torpado...


To me, the Torpado is a dog to ride, when compared to my rider, a 2000 (approximately) Marinoni Piuma...


But the Torpado is a work of art, in my mind. I own four bikes and all, even the Marinoni, are worth looking at. Most, except the Marinoni, are wall art but I keep only one on display at a time. I just do not have the room to display several, so, when the mood strikes, one of the wall hangers hangs out in the living room, for me to view at my leisure. I display one at a time, mostly out of respect for my wife who does not see the same artistic value that I do. She and I have been married for 52 years and I respect her wishes (one on display at a time). At the moment, that one is my 1958 Rabeneick 120d...


And, in closing, I find that it is just as much fun to find, restore and ride (however briefly) an entry level steed as it is to do the same with the head horse in the heard. My next project, a lowly Carlton that will allow me the opportunity to try out the Campagnolo Gran Tourismo rear derailleur (the Carlton was originally fitted with Simplex plastic chain hoppers but I do not really like plastic anything)...