>Today it seems to me that the top range Italian bikes (to select a group) are predominately an aluminum/carbon stayed frame with a carbon fork from either Look, Kestrel,or lately Columbus. The most distinguishing thing I see in these bikes is the paint scheme and decals. >>John "maybe I'm just missing it today" Price
Ummm, not sure if this is on topic for this list, but i'll keep this short.
I think you've made a fairly harsh generalization, and lumped at lot of bikes together. I think it was Dale who dressed down someone a few weeks back for slogging current Bianchi bikes as the same as others with different stickers. OK list members, I'll say that I like classic bikes as much as any others here. But all bikes are good bikes, and some modern bikes are fantastic machines. In general, i'd like to say that the most "distinguishing thing" about current Italian, or other current high end bikes, is the way they ride. I can't tell much about the way a bike rides just by looking, so I've gone an ridden some aluminum and carbon bikes, and you know what? They ride really good, but that's just my opinion.
grant mclean
toronto, canada