My spouse, actually. He rides a 30 year old steel Raleigh International. He's totally unpretentious about cycling. He loves hill rides and invented a 54-mile Seattle Waterworks tour as a means of climbing to all the highest points (water towers) in a very hilly city. He did Tour de Blast on that Raleigh two years ago (80-some miles from a town off I-5 up to Johnston Ridge at Mt. St. Helens, and back--7000+ elevation gain), and MAY get a new bike someday but only after doing RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day) on the Raleigh first. He's small and wiry and thus climbs well, and is the least show-offy person in the world--just quietly does his thing. He's ever helpful and generous with his time and bike help. He loves riding the tandem with me when not doing hideous hill rides. He's cool.

Liked your post, Kit.