Great forum!

Thought I'd just introduce myself briefly before I annoy you all with questions, opinons and suspect facts from my fogging memory.

I'll admit to be drawn back while watching this year's Tour. Anyone else remember trying to follow it in the newspapers and hoping the week would get more than a half hour TV coverage on Wide World of Sprots? this OLN coverage simply is amazing. Got me so worked up I ordered "Stars and Water Carriers" and "A Sunday in Hell" on DVD! Might have to get that Fausto Coppi Bio too.

First serious bike was Motobecane Super Mirage in '76, followed quickly by a Gitane Interclub later that year. that was my intro to tubulars and I never looked back. Over the years I've owned: Raleigh International, Raleigh Pro, Bianchi Campione d'Italia for off the shelf bikes. Frames I 've built up, Eisentraut Limited Touring, Benotto (Still own it - Nuovo Record), Sannino, hmm, the '86 Bianchi frameset's name escapes me now - didn't like the short top tube, Arthur Metcalf, MKM, a Batavus pro, and one Cannondale - for about a week. heh. Oh, and some way-long Raleigh 3spd that I made into a fixed-gear. Its sitting in my living room right now taunting me. Good thing it doesn't have pedals or I'd be too tempted go out and ultimatey end up hurting myself!

Question, anyone think 14 years is too long to age Clement Criterions? LOL!