The above statement is obviously a generalization that doesnt really mean much since everyone is different, but being a high school graduate of 1995 I'll indulge.

I've ridden all my life. I've only wrenched for a little over a year. I'm interested in wrenching because I like working with my hands. I've rebuilt cars, motorcycles and scooters, so why not bicycles?

My background is in riding though. Touring, to be exact. These days I like to commute as well. I also grew up riding my dads English 10 speed (not sure what it was and he threw it out years ago! )to work every weekend from the age of 14 on.

As for vintage, I love it. I like steel lugged frames. I like bar ends and some friction shifting. That said, i also like brifters in the right application.

I like to keep an open mind to both vintage components and modern. I'm a purpose driven practical person, so I'll use the right part for the job without much regard for proper vintage. I'm not trying to relive my youth my the 70s (I was only 4 then ) I'm just trying to build a bike to ride to work, tour on, ride on the weekends, give to my friend to get into riding, etc etc.

So while I appreciate vintage and seem to identify with those folks the most, I don't wish to limit myself to vintage. Why not have the best of both worlds?

That of course doesnt mean I'll put an octalink BB and shimano crank on a '72 Colnago though