What's the perfect road bike in your mind's eye?

[rccardr]

Wait, what? One? Just one?

[texbike]

Originally Posted by username

I was out walking the dog this morning, and a guy rode by on a Motorola Merckx. "Lovely bike!" I called out. He stopped, turned around, said thanks, and then pulled up alongside me. As we chatted, I got a good look at his ride: a Century TSX, blessed with a box-crown fork and chrome chainstays, and adorned with a Chorus 10 group—I'd like think the hubs were Record; I should have asked, but the conversation had turned to dogs—a white Flite saddle, and white tape.

I'd say the above is about as close to the ideal road bike as I can possibly imagine. I suppose I might prefer a DeRosa Professional in red or a Molteni Merckx, but maybe not. Anyway, it's funny how things get fixed in our heads at key moments in our lives and then live on forever after as glorious nostalgia.

The perfect road bike is the bike that inspires you to ride and brings you joy regardless if it's the latest/greatest or something more classic.

Here are two that personally bring me joy and inspire me to ride (both owned for over 15 years)...

Texbike

[tv_vt]

OK, from what I'm seeing, I'm wondering just how the bikes in this thread differ from the bikes in the thread about Rim Brake Perfection.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by tv_vt

OK, from what I'm seeing, I'm wondering just how the bikes in this thread differ from the bikes in the thread about Rim Brake Perfection.

Same thoughts here.

[Big Dan]

Hampsten SB.

[hainy]

It's steel and it's lugged.

[fa63]

This:

[Mr steel]

Mine

[timto]

To me, it's this guy right here. The Frame set anyway. For components I'd be wanting more retro and silver. DT stops, Shimano 8sp silver DT stuff and mid reach brakes, RH cranks in 44/36 Nitto bar, stem, post. Dura ace 7700 hubs with 28 spokes. Some 35mm tire w latex tubes and box section rims.

[madsciencenow]

Originally Posted by timto

To me, it's this guy right here. The Frame set anyway. For components I'd be wanting more retro and silver. DT stops, Shimano 8sp silver DT stuff and mid reach brakes, RH cranks in 44/36 Nitto bar, stem, post. Dura ace 7700 hubs with 28 spokes. Some 35mm tire w latex tubes and box section rims.

I tend to agree

[Coluber42]

I have other bikes, but this one will always have my heart.

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by fa63

This:

Disc brakes aren't allowed!

[cnighbor1]

Davidson

[nmrt]

No fair. Disc brakes aren't allowed.

Originally Posted by Elefantino

Disc brakes aren't allowed!

[DeBike]

For me, personally, it is my Soma Smoothie. It fits me as if it were custom made, highly comfortable and versatile, fits 32mm wide tires, quick and agile enough for my riding. If I go down to one bike, the Smoothie is it.
The endurance type geometry with a taller head tube and shallow slant top tube is what now works best for me. I match that up with a Ritchey Beacon bar, shallow drop of 80mm, 36 degree flare, and 65mm reach. I can ride it in comfort for as many miles as I care to do. It is rim brake, but the 105 7000 calipers are very good.