Tom & All,
I remember in 1986, I wanted an aluminum bike and would have loved to buy a Klein, but you are so correct! The Kleins were mega bucks more expensive than "C-Dales." I was fortunate to be living in South Carolina at the time and would drive up to Wilmington NC to visit 4 Wheeler Dealer, where Trek, Cannondale, Vitus and I forget what else (no Kleins however) was sold. I would spend hours on test rides, hating the ride of Cannondales, the most brutal ride I can remember (I have not ridden CAAD 4's & 5's & 6's!!). The Treks were much less so, but lacked feel. I settled on a Vitus, and while it was fine on the flat lands of Coastal Carolina, when I returned to the mountains of the Northeast, some good old fashioned climbing out of the saddle produced "auto shifts!!" Of course, the knowledgeable staff @ 4WD, warned that I was a bit heavy @170# for the Vitus!!
Up in this part of the country (upstate NY) I see more Cannondales, Treks and Serottas than anything else............
Your comment about bicycle weight (frame weight really) reminds me of what Keith Bontrager used to say: "most of the weight people need to lose is not in the frame!!"
Also, Grant Petersen's analysis of total weight vs. frame weight differences is enlightening as well, where the difference in a frame weighing 2.7# & one at 5.0# may be 50-54%, adding all the equipment and a 180# rider brings the total weight difference to something like 2-4%.
Time to go wheel out a 30 yr old "boat anchor!!!"
Cheers,
Chuck Brooks
Malta, NY