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There's something about the ride quality of those old steel bikes. I love the snap back when jamming on it off the saddle especially coming out of a very fast turn during a training ride or a race (Sadly I will no longer race). The only bike I found that has that same feeling is my Time and this latest Giant TCR. The giant even has that slightly muted feel of steel when going over chip seal roads. The Time will beat my ass over those type of road conditions. I really think these latest generation of carbon frames have come such long way compared to the first gen OCLV Trek frames or the "flexy" Early Look frames (Had one and looooved that frame on those long training rides). I love to take that silver DeRose (Ti or SS?) and beat on it down a mountain road and see what all the fuss is all about. Those old Italians know how to built a stable and fast bike. All of my Italian (Ok including the French too) bikes feel that way.
Not sure if I mentioned it here? When I was in Italy, I has a chance to visit Masi's work shop under the velodrome in Milan. It reminded me of my father's jewelry shop. A typical shop that built things. Stuff were not out of place but scattered. The old man, Alberto, his son, came out with an English translator. We spoke about having a frame make. he took about 3 min to measure me up and immediately said you need this! Same size I have been riding since I was 18. Sadly, I ended up without the frame due to long lead time, 2 months. The tariff would have been as much as the bike itself when it ships through customs. I also visited Casati, same thing, typical shop which is very cool to see. During that time, alum was the top building materials.
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