I'm in denial - so its hard to really count how many are in my two storage rooms in the basement. I've got off topic road bikes, I still have the 2nd and 3rd MTBs I bought new, some city bikes, a Belgium city bike, a Schwinn paperboy bike and Taz Taylor has a tiny Gunnar I want to make a rain bike out of next year. A couple of bikes/frames are intended for my very tall teenager if he wants to work on a project with me. I think there are about 10 or 12 down there. I'm not counting my kid's bikes though.
Since they take up a silly amount of space hanging up in my living room - favorite on topic bikes are:
1970s-ish Montelatici. Very Super/NR Campy. Rides really well, but I've not ridden it since it came back from it's beauty visit with Brian. I don't think it's changed though! Think Italian stage race bike, not Crit bike or touring bike. Its pretty and fits me like it was made for me.
1968 Claud Butler Torino. Its the smallest Italianate British bike I could find! The CB is currently at work waiting for a turn on the alignment table. Then off for paint. I have no idea how it rides, but judging by the length of those chainstains and that fork rake - a comfortable bus? Oh - this one gets a mix of vintage Italian/Campy and classic British parts. Considering how all the bits, including the transfers, were very easy to find, I'm thinking it was meant to be.
1973 Schwinn World Voyager. Kool Blue, 1973 Dura Ace. Need I say more? Will I ride it? I don't know, its my size and I like how it looks. It might have a ton of personality, then again it might not. I like the paint over chrome though.
1981 Trek 730. Currently a mix of vintagey Shimano 600 and era-like stuff. Very serviceable, currently living on a trainer but not nearly as inspiring of a ride as the Montelatici.
1983 Medici Pro Strada. Very drilled, sew ups, very light. Big ring drilled and countersunk like swiss cheese! Super Record and anodized black bits. Sexy and probably fast, but not ridden until the tires are glued on.
And only on topic because it's a keeper of the flame and has a period Cinelli bar and stem, my 03 Waterford. Every time I get on this bike I am overwhelmed with it's comfort and perfection. This is the bike I really ride. Its geared for everything the Atlanta area throws at me and I don't cry if it gets dirt on it. I spent some time trying to figure out why it rode so nice by comparing materials and geometry to my other bikes and I'm still not sure. I've made some future vintage collector very angry though by mixing 1993 Dura Ace and 9 speed Chorus.
Ann Phillips, Decatur GA