unfortunately yes, I am/was a closet roadie.
But can’t stand crabone fibRe, because I am not 45, post mid life crisis and have two kids wanting to go to some pap uni course @ £9k a year, each.
Instead I went retro, and built this thing from scratch in 2010/11. Frame is from 1973 and exactly my size, couldn’t be more perfect if it was made for me (Its 54×54.5cm a non standard size lol) and all the parts bar the crank arms were ‘NOS’ found from many places, some dirt cheap, some free, but most at daft retro bike type prices.
That was when I 1st built it. Now it has a different saddle (brooks swift Ti), much more seatpost sticking out (legs stretched up nicely), and a great saddle to ‘bar drop (back has stretched out too) and a few other things.
Eventually I will have a full generation 1 dura ace groupset (1973/4) which is what it was originally decked out with when new. It actually performs really well (bar the brakes), and 27″ tyres with 28/30c tyres roll a HELL of a lot better on rough Lakeland roads than any 700c 19/23/25/28c tyre does, by a LONG shot.
Its not bad on weight either, about 10.3kg with pedals (DA track pedals) and those massive touring rims/40h wheels/massive anti puncture tyres/brooks. If I put sprints on it (have some campag record on GP4 knocking about) and some 700c x 19c tubs, weight is down to 9.0kg DEAD (with pedals). which I think is pretty competitive with modern alu framed bikes (although they would be a LOT stiffer for the ewight).