I suppose it is obvious to a lot of folks that many lines of bikes one
mention as Second Tier produced a few really upscale models that easily
keep company with those supposed "First Tier" bikes and that even the
obvious candidates for First Tier produced some decidedly lower level
bikes...Like the Eisentraut Limited, or a Colnago with that accursed
stiletto fork that I once owned.
Battaglin and Rauler made some bikes that I think are nearly heart stopping.
I have owned one such Battaglin and good buddy Mark Poore's blue Rauler is
the rival of just about anything on two wheels. The trouble with broad
characterizations is that they are so akin to metaphors...they often just
don't work.
I noted Paramount was included into some folks scheme of First Tier bikes.
I love them and collect them, but I had to raise my eyebrows a bit over such
a factory made item's inclusion. My own (and probably indefensible) scheme
might be to put those one man made bikes first and then lump others behind
them, but I make no claim to being unbiased.
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi USA