Thanks for your comments. I'm delighted to be able to have this conversation.

From what you all have said, I feel more confident that a non-WSB will work for me size-wise and that I'm looking at the right models more or less.

One thing I didn't mention is that I test rode a redline conquest classic recently (prior to my voluminous online research) and found it to be a looong reach. I was told that that could be mitigated by shortening the stem - but I have since read that this makes a bike squirrelly. What do you think?

FWIW..My current bike is a 1992 Specialzed Rockhopper MTB that I only fit into because I put those handle bar extenders on to shorten my reach and allow me to be probably unnaturally upright.

I have to say that I like the concept of the Redline CC best - lighter, quicker, versitile. The geometry on the LHT seems more suitable to what I'm looking for though, alhtough I'm concerned that it will be heavy and not as much fun for a lightweight like me to ride unloaded over the mountain passes near here. Zoom Zoom and Sky King voiced both ends of that spectrum. Now I need to find out where I fall, eh?

Will the LHT feel slow and/or heavy to me for daily (unloaded) rides?

Will the Redline CC feel too stretched out and never fit quite right?

We can throw Bianchi Volpe in the mix, though I understand its very similar to the Redline.

Where can I find actual weights on the above bikes?

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. THE INTERNET IS AMAZING B/C OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.