Here are a few "second tier" bikes that live with me. each with its own rationalization. It seems to me that there are different flavors of "second tier," and that most are a good fit for me.
GENUINE SECOND TIER OR LOWER:
1) All-black Raleigh Competition, now ridden as fixed-gear. It's just plain comfortable. Sort of Raleigh's answer to the PX-10 (all 531-db frame, less expensive components). 3rd from the top of the line.
2) Austro-Daimler first gen Vent Noir. Not the really neat smoked chrome, but the earlier sort of wrinkly matte black. with gold lining and all D/A black gruppo. And a "black" GB stem with some @#$%@ peculiar sized stem allen key bolt. Very distinctive bike, and rides really nicely. At the time, it was below another model (See CR site) that I found mucho twitchy criterium-like.
3) A much-loved "down-market" Hetchins, an Italia Spyder. Too recent (1970s), with lugs that are only moderately reworked instead of thoroughly tortured and decorated (but there is some baroque drool on fork and seat stays). And, sin of sins for the collectors with noses up: straight stays. So, it just barely nods to excess, instead of reeking of it. :-)
4) And then there is the "Roma Sport" fixed gear bike with oval fork blades, very light rims, FB HF hubs, and Magistroni senior cranks. I can't believe I had them (and the Victoria stem) rechromed, but they look good with the shot paint.
SECOND TIER BY DINT OF CONDITION: 1) Well-used Cinelli SC "riders." I'm on my second high-patina one now, and really prefer them to the showboats. Much more affordable, just as much fun to ride (real thoroughbreds).
2) '65 Paramount, recovering in silver mist from original chrome. top tube cracked, and this was one of the last repairs/repaints under warranty before Schwinn went under. I've had this one since ~1974, and really love it, even though the finish and remaining chrome pattern are not exactly according to factory spec, even though done by the factory.
CATEGORY 2 OR LOWER FUNKMEISTER SPECIALS. 1) MID-60S Sears Ted Williams Sport Racing. Campy "steel" Record derailleurs, with long-tail front; Weinmann rims and brakes, and as crude a frame as you'll see with great tubes. Maybe because it has seemed waterpipe tubing. Ah! but the fork has a (fake) 2-plate crown with round blades.
2) A "24"" Schwinn Super Sport, really nice shape and bright red. I think it is all original, except the hop in the rear rim. I hope it is a short-timer at chez Sachs, but I had to try one.
3) A rare (but should be even rarer) 1970s Avenir with 300 mm cranks. Well, they don't go around, but up and down. Sort of a 4-speed stair-stepper on 2 wheels. the "get it out of the garage" accompaniment when I bought a tandem once. Too awful to inflict on others; will bring to Cirque for others to get grossed out by.
harvey sachs mcLean va (as an experiment, I <snipped> the long thread of other submissions, confident that the discussion will continue and continue.)