at left Tom descends the Cormet de Roseland on his 2001 Litespeed Tuscany during the 2002 l'Etape du Tour

On the right the final descent from Colombiere headed for the finish to the 2002 l'Etape.

My first bike in 2001 was a Specialized Allez.  I had some problems with spokes and decided I wanted a bike that might take my 200 lb frame on its frame and got a 57 cm. Litespeed Tuscany.  This was a great all-round bike and served me very well in races on on long rides. It has the lightness of titanium and a strong and comfortable frame. It is tough and didn't give me any problems over the 5,000 miles I put on it in the first year I rode.  When I had a brief and unsettling encounter with a pickup truck that cracked the seatpost and the rear wheel, I took the frame in to get it checked out. 

While in the shop, I was offered a very great deal on a 55 cm Litepeed Vortex, 2003 model.  I decided to see if my sister-in-law, just them starting to ride seriously, might like the Tuscany when it came back from Litespeed.  It suffered no frame damage in the crash and we got it refinsihed and re-decaled.  We were able to fit her nicely and I became the proud owner of a very expensive bicycle.

The Vortex was more nimble and the 55 cm size fit me better.  The big decals give it a little bit of a commercial look, but it still gets attention.

The Tuscany came with an Ultegra gruppo but was fitted with a Dura-Ace triple for the climbs in L'Etape du Tour. I started with a 12-27 sprocket with the double.

When I got the triple, I kept the 27.  I rarely used either the small ring or the 27, but I liked the insurance.

The Vortex came with full-zoot Campagnolo Record and a 11-23.  I did fine with that on the local rides but opted to get a big  13-29 to do the Mount Mitchell ride in the spring of 2003.  I needed every bit of the  29 to get up that mountain.  I also resolved to get the triple and keep the 29 to do l'Etape and I was glad I did given the 22% on Bagargui.

I've remounted the double but then decided I'd like to ride in the NC Mountains and put the triple back on. It doesn't get in the way and there are no real shifting problems.  The 53 on the big ring with the 13 doesn't give me all that I might need on the wednesday time trials and that's the only reason I'll go back to the double.