Every so often I get a bee in my bonnet and obsess on some new thing. I can never predict what it’s going to be. For example, back in 2007, after buying a perfectly nice new bike (my carbon fiber Bianchi 928, “Plastic Fantastic”), and having my 1995 Ritchey Road Logic (“Old Tom”) repainted, I became obsessed with finding a lugged steel, Columbus MAX frame and building it up with Campagnolo kit. I spent a month finding the frame, and a couple more months acquiring all the bits, piece by piece, on Ebay. That became “Dreadnought”.

Interestingly, that coincided with my old company going through a really bad year, wherein they laid off about half the staff, 3 times, but each time, I survived. So, obviously a stressful time and perhaps my mind was using this to provide another focus.

Fast forward to today. For the last week, I have been OBSESSED with finding a 1999 - 2002 Litespeed Ultimate, either a frameset or a bike, to rebuild. I’d actually wanted on back when that would have been new.

So, for the last week, I find myself haunting Ebay, even wondering whether I could drive to Michigan to buy the one that says “Local Pickup Only”. Yesterday, I looked at the local Craigs List and there was one just down the Peninsula in Los Altos. It was my size. It was EXACTLY the year I want (curved seatstays, straight seat tube with indentation made for the rear wheel to shorten the chainstays, threadless headset). I almost went for it, but dawdled, and it was gone.

But I’m still obsessed!!! What the fuck do I need with a FOURTH bike? I don’t ride but 3 days a week max!

Anyway, there’s a glimpse of what goes on in my head. Thank you for your indulgence. Now it’s time to go ride a bike I actually own!