I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my query for a frame I could purchase cheaply and build as a winter bike. I was inundated with offers for a huge variety of mouth-watering iron, from houses such as Holdsworth, Bianchi, Mirella, and Gazelle. I was tempted by an oddball aero-tubed Shimano AX-branded frame, a sublime Pinarello, and a heart-palpitating Colnago, but in the end couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the Masi club.
Each and every frame I was offered would easily sell for far more on e-bay than I was able to pay. The Masi I chose was practically a gift. This proves to me that, as much as we beat one-another up over issues of philosophy and approach, there are still a lot of CR folks out there who are concerned first and foremost with making sure good bikes are being ridden by folks who appreciate them.
In sum, I've got a frame I'm excited about on the way, got to oogle a bunch of gorgeous bike jpgs, and had my faith in humanity restored. Not a bad day's work.
Hey! With all the interesting stuff hiding in our basements and garage rafters, we ought to form the Squadra Horde-ini. To join you have to be riding a bike on which no component was bought new or NOS, or cost over $50. Style points are deducted for any two components coming from a single manufacturer, or for using parts from a label that still exists. Imagine the thrills of descending in a pack of Huret/Ofmega/Galli/Malliard/Atom/Simplex/Zeus/Weimann/Mafac-equipped bicycles. Particularly when it comes time to brake for Deadman's Corner.
My apologies if I failed to respond to anyone's e-mail to me.
Kris Green
Olympia WA