I am a man of two types of road biking. In the late Summer and Fall, I am Mr. C&V on any number of NR equipped bikes. But the rest of the year I race with the other old goats on a modern carbon rig. Last Sunday, I NEEDED to get out of the house to ride for 4 hours or so. Looking outside, the roads were already wet from a steady rain. In the garage was a brand new Cannondale with DA 7900. I had only ridden it 10 miles on a shake down and adjustment ride. Call me lazy, but I did not want to clean a brand new bike after just 2 rides.

So what are my other choices. I have the TT bike. No. How about a '76 AD or '72 Paramount? Nah. I don't feel like cleaning them either. Looking around the garage I spot the perfect victim. It has been sitting on the indoor trainer for the last 5 years and rarely gets outside. It is already dirty and covered in garage dust and old sweat. A 1997 Cannondale 3 series with DA 9 speed. The brakes are a little sticky, the shifter cables gunked up, but I won't feel bad just hosing it down after today's ride.

I remember when I first got this bike and how nice it was compared to my previous racers. And I was actually surprised how well it still rode. And with one exception, (a Merckx with DA 7400 of some kind) it was the oldest bike that I saw on the road that day. As I had several hours to myself on the road, my mind began to wander. How soon will it be before this Cannondale falls under C&V? Already, some of the DA 7400 stuff is starting to get a bit pricey as the 40 something guys try to build up the bike they once had as a Junior racer. Maybe I should take better care of this old Cannondale, or at least take better care of the parts.

How soon will it be that we look back fondly at any form of mechanical shifting, be it friction, indexed or brifter? I see a future of electric/hydraulic systems, and my wallet weeps.

Anyway, what old bikes do you have that may just be approaching the edge of C&V?

My 79 Schwinn LeTour IV is probably on the edge of that, not really worth much even if it were pristine, with all original paint, decals and gear. No one is going to collect it, but after busting it down and rebuilding, updating a few bits (wheels, seat, brake levers), it makes for a good old pound down the road sort of bike. Classic...NO, vintage iron with "Super Lite 1020 Tubing", it soaks up the road well, better than my newer AL framed Felt.

Well, I guess we all have different standards. My highest-tech, most modern, bike is very clean. But on the one hand it is probably a beater compared to your Cannondale, and on the other hand the only reason it's clean is because I haven't actually ridden it yet. The bikes I ride regularly are... well, pretty filthy. I almost never clean my bikes. I did wash my commuter bike last week, though, since I take it on the train and it occasionally comes into contact with clothing including, sometimes, other people's clothing (). It is nice that they give me some space, but I don't want them to shun me completely.

It sounds like you have too many toys and really just need a third type of road biking. Take the '76 AD or similar candidate, make a fixed gear out of it. Then you won't have to worry about mechanical shifting, too much cleaning, or wearing out nice DuraAce components!

I have three ready to enter C&V teritory, depending on your definition of C&V. All are 1991. A Bottechia SLX with Superbe Pro, a Gianella SL with Dura-Ace and a custom Marinoni SLX with Campagnolo C-Record. The Dura-Ace is so superior to the other two, that the Gianella gets ridden far more often than the other two put together. The next upcoming candidate will be the GT Vengeance TT/triathlon bicycle with Ultegra and 650C HED trispokes.

Most vintage bicycles available today had to pass through the POS stage in their lives.

I'm stuck in a time warp when it comes to cars and especially motorcycles and bicycles. Really nice old mechanical things are like a drug for some people like me. A natural high.

My mind wanders all the time when I'm out by myself on one of my vintage Paramounts. I feel like I'm 16-years-old again, and I can't get that stupid grin off my face for nothin'.

My newest bike is the "beater" 1987 Cannondale "Team Comp" I picked-up last month. I rode it and instantly fell in love with it. It's full Campy, Brooks saddle, and covered in small nicks, but is really quite nice. After a full service and brush-touch of all the paint blems now I feel pretty good about my OPOS. Can't wait to take it on some more club rides as soon as the weather breaks.

My 1981 Schwinn Super LeTour is also a nice rider. I did a bunch of updates to it and now it is also superb.

Maybe if I actually rode a modern bike sometime for any distance, I would know what I'm missing?

For my tastes, my 1981 Super Le Tour and my "new" 25-year-old Cannondale are modern enough.

I think you need something much crappier than a DA equipped Cannondale to qualify as a POS. C&V, I don't know. People ask for definitions from time to time but I don't believe there's a consensus about what qualifies.

due ruote hit the nail on the head: You definitely NEED something much crappier to qualify as a POS.
- So here's a deal you can't refuse: I'll pick up a genuine POS for you in the morning, and we'll arrange a swap!

To an extent, POS is as POS does... you can make anything ride like a POS if you neglect it enough! Sounds like it'd be transformed into a pretty sweet ride if you gave it some love and affection.

OK, I know my Cannondale with the DA nine speed is not a POS. it may be a bit dirty and the sweat has corrieded the paint over the years. But it does clean up nice, and as I reminded myself last weekend, it still provides a good ride. So you guys are correct. But, no, you can't have it. Too us it is not a POS.

However, if I were to show up for my first race of the year next week with it, I can gaurantee the first thing I would hear is " What kind of POS are you riding?"

It really is in the eye of the beholder! I just have to remember bike racers, myself included, are jerks.

"What kind of POS are you riding?" LOL - You've got that right - Maybe not the verbal but for sure you'll get "that look"

I have a triplet of early '90s Bridgestones that are on the edge of C&V, I think.

You have me feeling bad. I never clean my bikes after a ride. Maybe they get hosed down, then left to drip dry. The commuter doesn't even get that. I think each bike gets cleaned once every few years. If I even get a nice bike that looks pretty newish, maybe I will start with the regular cleaning. Maybe.