My first race bike, when I was a freshman in high school in 1971, was a Gitane Inteclub with tubular tires and a 14-19 freewheel. I had a bottom-of-the line Gran Sport before that, but traded a guy even for the Interclub. I don't know how many miles I put on that bike but it included a 1,400 mile tour of New England where I got good at sewing tubulars by the campfire.
I purchased my first good bike when I was a junior. It was a Zieleman Type Special that I bought as a frame from the late Chris Meerman, and built up with the best parts I could afford -- a lot of Japanese parts, but Campagnolo derailleurs. I raced that bike on the Eliipse in the National Capaital Open and in Rock Creek and Fort Hunt Parks.
I outgrew the Zieleman by the following year and bought a Mercian with the long tangs on the bottom bracket shell and built it up with a new Campy group. I also bought my first track bike, a 1964 chrome Frejus that year. I'm still riding the parts from that one even though I outgrew the frame long ago.
As far as items I wish I had not sold -- a Gillott track (my second track bike) and Cinelli Mod B frame.
Pete Czapiewski
Alexandria VA