I am inspired by these lists of incredible machines getting ridden regularly. I imagine many spotless workshops where meticulous maintenance is performed next to temperature and humidity controlled storage rooms. That is not my house, however. I tend to ride what is running the best at that moment: - The last Lemond Carbon frame before he and Trek got divorced, built with SRAM Red. I ride it occasionally and like it. - Salsa La Raza Steel with 9 speed Ultegra - bulletproof, nice riding and fun - Sobel KOF touring bike with 80's Deore XT that I make sure to ride a couple of times a year, for old times sake. - Petrie KOF Racer with Super Record and assorted - see Sobel - Takara that I've owned for over 30 years as a backup commuter - Gary Fisher 29er for my twice annual mountain bike rides - Raleigh Twenty non-folding 4-speed that I ride in the 4th of July parade (Thanks Andy!) and my absolute favorite that I ride most of my miles on, both commuting and pleasure, is a mid-70s Holdsworth that has been broken and rebuilt as a fixed gear, with a Sobel fork, 28 spokes wheels, fenders, BMX chainring and other unmatched parts. I believe it is a dogs breakfast, if I understand the term.
By spring I expect to have another Sobel KOF built up with an extremely low mileage nuovo record group and sewups that was a bike I raced 25 years ago, a Lemond off-topic steel frame built up as a 3-speed fixed gear and hopefully the Zeus that Jerry and I have been sort of co-parenting.
Regarding that incredible Zeus for sale on ebay: I would ride it. Not lots of miles, but I think the most beautiful bikes are those that have been ridden well and well cared for. Thank my lucky stars that Zeus doesn't fit me.
Ben Sandel
Harrisonburg VA