I ride vintage steel exclusively. My bikes serve my commuting and recreational purposes exceedingly well, they are reliable and cheap to maintain, and they look right and feel right to me. I enjoy showing up for a group ride on the oldest bike, occasionally the only steel bike. I don't mind it when someone comes up with a snide remark, such as "steel is real ... heavy," because I do not believe my Bianchi's 10kg of mass slows me down appreciably. (I am actually one of the better climbers in the group.)
I am also a big believer in buying decent-quality goods, taking proper care of them, and keeping them as long as I realistically can. (I currently drive a 1996 Audi A4 2.8Q, a hand-me-down from my younger son
, and my neighbor is still driving my 1988 Dodge Aries (K-car) station wagon.)
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069