I got a new bike today. I think I'm in love. I just met her about a week ago. It's safe to say that she's seen better days.......but who hasn't? She has a bit of rust, the paint isn't great and she needs new tires, but.............still.............it might be love.

Now.........it'd be fair to ask, " Why do you need a 25 year old road bike when you have that awesome Seven at your command, not to mention the track bike, the 'cross bike etc?" It's a good question, one my wife, for whom the phrase "long-suffering" was coined, came up with right away. Let's see if I can do a better job answering it now than I did when she asked it:

First, lemme tell you about her. (The bike, not my wife). Rose is a Bianchi Campione dating back to the early '80's, (I think) w/ Campy Nuovo Record bits, Modolo brakes, tubys and painted an unfortunate sort of magenta/rose/pink that has my Service Manager questioning my sexuality again. ( Not that there's anything wrong with that!) She came into the shop, needing a new home and she found one w/ me. She's just what I was lookin' for. The fact is, I had a hankerin' for an old bike. Steel. Lugs. Friction shifters. Sew-ups. A freewheel. Cloth tape. Leather saddle. In other words.........the bike of my (cycling) youth. Mid life crisis? Perhaps. I figure I'm about half-way through the big ride, so that'd fit. I don't think that's all of it though. The truth is I just wanted something..........older. My Seven is a thing of beauty and wonder and it's way more bike than I'll ever deserve, even if I get really fast. (Which I won't) But…..I'm coming off of a semi-serious injury that has me looking at a different season that those past and I'm taking a fresh look. No racing for me 'till late summer and lots more sittin' and spinnin' than "training". Who knows? Maybe a break from the grind is just what the Doctor ordered.

Now.........how does all that justify adding yet another bike to the fleet? Hell if I know. I was hoping maybe you could tell me. Let's met at the shop and talk about it while we ride around Hutchin's Lake, okay?

I'll be the guy on the old Bianchi