Great stories and rides / bikes here, just read 17 pages in one hit which is a first for me! You guys in the US certainly do have some amazing trails and scenery to explore and it appears that you may not see any other folk for some time in doing so; that makes me very envious!
My bikes are all fairly old in comparison with some of these, but I wouldn't change them for anything else right now, they all ride and fit / feel part of me which is all I ask of them. The old mtb (Defride will recognise this..) has done many 1000's of miles, bought new in 1993, still on original wheels, bars, seatpost and believe it or not shifters, the rest wore out several times over the years. It didn't get used for maybe 10 years when the road bikes took preference, but I have been using it as a commuter and for holidays with Mrs, it feels like a relic but it gets attention from the retro guys out there, and still goes pretty quick on dry single-track.. The front is too low because the fork dampers had perished but thankfully I did manage to source some replacements from a small co in Idaho which work a treat, so now there's probably 2.5" travel when needed.. I still love the Joe Murray frame, and it's so amusing when local roadies blank me on this..!
Road bikes; my early ones are long gone but these I will never part with, Fondriest Don Racer U107 and Felt AR1. Both run Campagnolo record, 10 & 11sp respectively. The Fondriest has done several Etape Du Tour in the Pyrenees and the Marmotte in the Alps, back when I was riding a lot, all serious rides and a lot of fun, even the Marmotte arriving at Alp d'Huez feeling like a tour rider This is superlight, just under 7kg, luckily I was well within it's weight limit as it was built for climbing by lightweight riders, so Iirc the limit was 80kg max, back then I was around 65kg. I plan to swap out the chainset from Rotor to Campag at some point. Wheels are Tubs, DV46, brakes are those Ciamillo's, thankfully they worked well as that's one area not to mess with when riding a lot in the Alps and Pyrenees..
This Felt AR1 I built around 10 years ago, all record, and just rides so nicely, comes in at 8kg.
Longest rides were 210 miles over 2 days, day 1 was 120, day 2 90, average 20.4 mph through and off. Maybe one day I'll get back to that sort of thing..
My first accent of the Gailibier with my gf in 1999 I believe, still a monument having done it 4 times 2 from each side, Valoire ascent being the toughest. Easy to pass cars on the descent to the Lauteret which was always fun.
I use my TT bike indoors now, another Felt, B2, running a Tacx Flux 2. Wheels were different when testing of course, I was never great always 1/3rd to half way down which was fine when the Yates family were dominating..
Sorry to bore you all, nice to talk non audio sometimes!
Beautiful bikes! You've done some very nice riding in Europe. I've had the opportunity to ride a bit in the Pyrenees, mostly following the Tour. I loved the Tourmalet, had a bad day on the Hautacam so that one not so much. Still riding skinny tires on the Fondriest? We are mostly riding 25-28 here in No. California.