Lately, the tomato-red carlsbad masi I picked up as a frame and fork years ago on ebay, for, I think, 300 bucks. It looked worse in the pics than it was, which is why I got it so cheap. I've left it original, although well-used, all the graphics, most of the paint are there. Built with a nitto technomic deluxe for comfort, and some really nice period-correct, tubular-look-alike clincher wheels. masi GCs are just all-around arguably the best riding bikes I have. Bike has a fun combination of parts, mostly period correct, including some panto'd stuff and the first campagnolo brakes I ever owned, which I bought new, and which, at one point, spent most of a day at the bottom of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor in Honolulu (another story altogether). This is my beater-masi, I think I have about 500 bucks in it, all up, if that.
Also, my much-treasured Romic touring bike from the early 70s. Thing rides like an ocean-liner, in the best way. Built up with a mish-mash of japanese parts, all top-notch, all acquired from here and there over the years. Has nice matching esge fenders. Fine old 27" wheels with paselas. This is my commuter bike, I have very little money in it, so if it was stolen, I'd cry, but not too hard. Seems like a Romic touring frame is one of the sleepers of the vintage bike world. Good as it gets for both comfort, road-handling, and commentary. I always get comments when I take her out on the road. Thanks to Pergo for selling it to me.
And my Baylis road bike from the mid-1990s. A bit of a steal on ebay. Guy posted the frame sans pictures. No-one bit, so I e-mailed him and we made a deal (thanks to Lou Deeter, who let it go so I could snag it up)...a lovely bike in every way. I should shoot it sometime. It features this cool pearl yellow paint with white accents and the most delicately finished nervex pro lugs you'll ever see. Built with OT Chorus and Record Ergo. Built to go up a vertical climb with long-cage derailleur, wide ratio cassette and triple up front. Has nice sew-up wheels.
all the others see the road now and then. But not enough.
Charles Andrews Los Angeles
One thing which always flabbergasts me is the degree to which people think their mad driving skills make it unpossible for them to get into an accident [while doing something else at the same time]
-Atrios