Gosh. All this time I've had this 1890s women's Lenox in original paint and livery and now I learn that it should have been repainted at least 3 times, thus far! I've got some catching up to do. When I get home tonight, I'll start rectifying the situation. I'll pull off those old, hard tires and that ratty skirt guard material, polish up the spoon brake and get set to start racking up the miles on her. It does seem a little sad that we'll never get to see paint jobs that are over 30 years old again, but a rule's a rule.
Steve Barner, shaking the can of Krylon in Bolton, Vermont
> Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 23:41:06 EST
> From: CMontgo945@aol.com
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Conserving 30-year old bikes
> > In my opinion, old bikes should be ridden.
> > A bike that is 30 years old and does not need restoration has not been
> > ridden enough.
> > A good steel frame can last 100 years, so if you're not going to
> > restore it 3x times, then you're mistreating your ride - either by
> > neglecting to ride it enough, or neglecting to restore it when it gets
> > rusty and/or unprotected.
> > probably these views are controversial, but they are mine and i do not
> > believe in forcing them upon others.
> > - Don Gillies
> > San Diego, CA
> >
> Well thank you Don. I was having misgivings, as an earlier post of mine
> discussed, about turning my 60 year old (that's 2x30) Bates into a
commute/tour
> bike. Instead of decorating it with period goodies I'm going to outfit it
with
> vintage but tough, functional, and comfortable components and ride the
bejeezus
> out of it. So any of you hardliners, if you see me, don't throw rocks. Or
> laugh for that matter.
>
> Craig in Tucson