-=> Quoting Richard Glazer to John O'neill <=-
 
 RG> For the price Marinoni frames are a bargain compared to
 RG> other frames.  If the paint is a concern, perhaps you can give the bike
 RG> a few coats of clear  paint yourself. 
 Good suggestion,  It is not that big of a deal though I don't cry 
 over a scratch here or there.  Being that it is steel I do touch
 up the paint with those little bottles of Testors enamal paints.
 
 The good folks at Marinoni might be on vacation because the bike 
 shop has not been able to get them on the phone for the last week.
 Also they may be swamped with frame orders for christmas, but I 
 am in no hurry.
 
 RG> I know what you mean about the
 RG> feel of a steel frame. No other  material can match it. Aluminium with
 RG> time gets soft. Carbon can be a bit  springy. The only one I'm not too
 RG> sure about is titanium. 
 
 The February Issue of Bicycle Guide just arrived, It is a special
 "Carbon Issue" It tested 5 carbon bikes, of the three that could 
 fall into my price range two were noted as not absorbing "the 
 hand numbing high frequency road vibration".  The third one I 
 could afford was reported as smooth riding but the frame and fork
 added up to a hefty 6 lbs & 6 oz.
 Most Titanium frame are just too expensive for me right now.  One
 though has a very good price the Macalu by Lightspeed.  The reason
 I can't buy this frame is the fit is all wrong for me, the seat tube
 is too slack for my shorter femur length and the top tube is too 
 short for my longer upper torso.
 
 The bikes that seem to fit me perfectly are all Italian, Bianchi,
 Marinoni and Guerciotti seem to be made for guys like me.  The
 first bikes I looked at were the LeMond bikes but Greg has a long
 femur and his bikes reflect that in geometry.  What I have been
 looking for is a 54 or 55 cm frame with a 74 degree seat tube and
 a 55 cm or longer top tube, the three bikes I listed all have that.
 If I take a bike with a 73 degree seat tube I would have to slide
 my saddle forward and I would need an overly long handle bar stem.
 also my center of gravity might get too close to the front axle 
 when I stand up to crank.  If the bike shop does get a hold of
 Marinoni, I am sure that is what I will buy.   
 
 Also I would consider buying a better groupo that Veloce if I
 would see better performance.  As a last note for whatever it's
 worth the Excel catalog lists the weight of Veloce's headset and
 crankset as being lighter that even the Record's.  I wonder if
 Campy groups componants can be interchanged and still work well
 together? 
 
 Thanks again for all your information and suggestions!
 John O'Neill
 
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