I had my mind set on a modest Steamroller, but I couldn't put it together for much less than a thousand dollars, and even then I would have had to build the wheels myself (an awful lot for a first-timer).
Anyway, my wife put a ceiling price on my fixed gear project that put me below the Steamroller.
Now the Bianchi Pista looks awfully good, and much better than I could presently do for myself given my budget.
I'll save the Steamroller for a later project.
Since the Steamroller will accomodate much larger tires than the Pista, I can justify it (makes sense to me).
This really hurts to postpone it, though, because aebike.com has a Steamroller frame in my size and color for a ridiculously low price.
I wrote and asked them if they'd made a mistake.
They said they'd honor the price but I'd have to hurry.
My son says the Pista makes a good starting place for upgrades, and I can ride it now (it worked for absntr).
So my LBS made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I took it.
I should see the bike in the second week of February.
In preparation, I ride around town in an 81" gear and try to imagine how I'll handle intersections on the Pista.
Great fun.