Since I sort of started this thing (I think that is a first for me) I'd like to clarify my original post. I certainly did not mean to imply that anyone who was willing to spend this kind of money on the Confente was elitist. I further did not intend to give the impression that I needed to be more educated on the subject to properly understand it. As an Architect I am pretty comfortable with all things artistic & in particular the "intangibles" of any given thing, those details & nuances that give something value. If I had unlimited funds available I might very well want to own this bike. As that is not the case, I simply meant to say that my money would go to one of our resident master craftsman framebuilders. Nothing else implied - really! Jim C., I hope the auction goes well. Brian B., thanks - I think you understood what I was trying to say. Dale B., I know all about Picasso, but his work is devalued for me based on his basic failures as a Human Being. But that's just me! Rest of CR list - Sorry! Richard Rose (Toledo, Ohio)