[CR]Please help a poor addict? [Long]

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

From: "Paul Williams" <castell5@sympatico.ca>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 22:06:27 -0500
Subject: [CR]Please help a poor addict? [Long]

Hi folks,

So there I was with a few minutes left on a bid on the dreaded E-Bay thinking that I was going to get the rusty, old, Follis that was being offered, when a couple of last second bids pipped me at the post. I had hummed and hahed about that frame all week but couldn't get it out of my mind. I finally put in a bid. I was even able to convince my wife that it was a worthwhile "project bike" and that it just needed some TLC. In the end, I felt that it was just crying out for me.

I have finished, for now, with the Raleigh and am just about to assemble the BJ, but I need a long term project. I need a real "project bike"; something which doesn't just require assembling parts and putting them all together. I also needed to break the 1980s barrier in my modest collection. The Follis would have fitted the bill. And it even had some parts hanging from it to get things going!

I was all primed to spend hours scraping rust, polishing, researching, touching-up, and conserving a nice, old, frame. It was going to be a nice long-term distraction from other distractions in my life. I was going to bring to bear 20+ years of experience as an archaeologist and artefact specialist to dig through the grime and corrosion and bring an unloved bicycle back to life. My wife, who worked for 15 years as a professional artefact conservator (with a specialism in metal objects), was even going to supervise the process.

Ah well, it was not to be. I am now, sad to say, left deflated and twitchy!! I am also still on the search for a nice "project". If anyone out there has one such bike or frame (53-56cm. - but preferably 54cm - English would be nice, but not fussy! pre-1980 - preferably 1960s or even 1950s - and not too costly) sitting in a cold dark corner of a basement, garage or attic that would like a new home please let me know (off-list) and help feed the habit of a new addict.

Paul "seeking help soon - I promise" Williams, Ottawa, ON, Canada