I have been "listening in" for the past week and finally decided that I should introduce myself. After seeing some of the "big names" I was a little intimidated at first, but after the protracted ebay discussion then it became obvious that most of you guys are at least as crazy as I am.
I may be the old man in this group--now 53. I grew up on a dairy-tobacco farm in Kentucky, and didn't own my first bike until 1973, during college--an Olmo (with Campy Record) that was subsequently stolen, so I replaced it with a Motobecane Gran Jubilee (which I sold in a moment of weakness, but the one Jim Cunningham has for sale on the Cyclart site looks suspiciously familiar!). I have been a franco-italiophile ever since. I was out of biking for several years, but started again in the early 80s. I only raced competitively for about 5 years, and if I competed against any of you guys (when I lived in Urbana-Champaign) I'm sure I finished behind you. I thought that moving up to the Master's level would resurrect my career, but only the really good guys kept racing, except me.
I have bought a number of items from some of you all, and I hope that I'm not the idiot who was bidding against one of you during Christmas--please let me know if it was me, and I'll try to bid higher next time!
I have been a little perplexed by the amount of time some of you seem to spend at the computer, but I finally figured it out from the weather reports. Since I live in Mississippi, I just got back from a brisk (48 degrees F) but sunny 20 mile ride (far enough according to my toes). We may have our problems, but bad weather isn't one of them. Its going to be sunny and 72 tomorrow--more riding time!
Like most of you I have too many bikes, all of which are riders. I have a 1973 Peugeot PX10, a 1974 Fiorelli with Campy NR, a ~1980 Paletti outfitted with Gipiemme (just to be different), a 1980 Peugeot CFX frame that I have built with Stronglight/Simplex/Mafac to PXN specs, an early 80s Bianchi with (mostly) Ofmega, a 1984 Olmo that I just put together and rode today for its maiden outing (got to find the tight link in the chain; by the way, would this be included in the "CR list?"), a 1985 Vitus Duralinox frame, again built with period Stronglight/Simplex/Weinmann, and my youngest bike, a 1986 (?) Serotta Colorado with Campy Chorus. I thank all of you who have contributed parts to complete some of these.
I would like to point out the the Vitus bonded frames are best in the smaller sizes, none of which Nashbar seems to have--they get kind of spindly in the larger frames.
Finally, Campy not only makes bike components, but has been casting alloy parts for the Italian auto industry for years. They not only made wheels for Fiat, but also Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, as well as engine parts such as sumps and intake manifolds. Their casting skills are spectacular.
Galen Poole (ebay gvp256)
Jackson (great biking weather) MS USA