The bikes and the riding. The quiet of car-free spaces. The mental demands of riding in traffic. The joy of finding a really cool but neglected bike on craigslist and bringing it back to life. The smell of new tires. Watching chain lube debates. Old tech that can be repaired rather than discarded. Descents. Tailwinds. Solitude.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera