I know all about your alleged "job," mister. You'll be getting no sympathy from me.

All I know is that I didn't get back home and in bed until 4am. You're a lawyer, how much is "lack of consortium" worth?

That's a rhetorical question, btw. It seems I've set the value, and my current employer is meeting it (for the time being).

I wonder if the first owner had to pay extra for the color coordinated bottle cage?

Mike, I noticed you didn't use the dérailleurs I sent - were they no good? Also, I think it looks much better with the black (as opposed to celeste) cable housings. Gives it a little detail and contrast.

I'm not sure but the ones I have seen at one of the LBS is a few dollars more than the standard issue cages. I'm going to ride it to work tomorrow I mounted the headlight on it today after work and its supposed to be nice tomorrow and even into the early part of next week so I can get some riding in. I consider this bike a birthday present to me. Come Tuesday 6/17 I'll be the double nickel so I'm riding

I did use the front derailleur but got a really good deal on the Deore RD so I used it. I'm saving the one you sent for a double build I'm going to do for our church auction next spring. The RD you sent was fine so it will be put to good use. I really like the black housing with the celeste bartape and it was a lot easier to find. I did get some derailleur housing but couldn't locate any for the brakes so it worked out better this way. I think it draws the eye to the frame and bars and I think with black tape and the celeste housing would have been a distraction to the star of the whole thing the frame

So the big question is - how does it ride?

I did my work commute today 14 mi. R.T. then the wife and I took another 14 mile ride after I got home. She on her mixte and me on the Bianchi. We stopped at the LBS in Orting to show Brian who did yeomans work on the wheels for both bikes and did a little tweaking for me here and there along the way and had given me some sound advice and killer deals too. He had not seen either bike in their finished mode and he was impressed at the final outcome. He really liked the Bianchi he told me the mixte was really beautiful but he was more drawn to the Bianchi. Must be the understated look I was trying for. But there is nothing understated about that Mixte. Sheila just goes on about the ride and how comfortable it is for her.

Very nice! I really like the bars.