Nice of you to say so. It is very very light, and sure to be lighter once I get rid of those honkin'-big reflectors. But the downtube shifters, I think, will freak me out in Manhattan traffic, and as for riding in the drops...well... After riding a hybrid (which, let's face it, is the bike equivalent of a minivan), I don't feel comfortable without a full view of the road. What I really want is a Rivendell Atlantis or a Surly LHT, but I was hoping to approximate one without spending thousands of dollars. I also brought home my dad's bike, which is a Fuji S-12-S (Dia Compe components), and it looks a little heartier in the rims. So maybe I should leave the Lotus alone and available for long rides and convert the Fuji. (And one other thing about riding in the drops: where, uh, do your b@lls go?)