Re: [CR]Conserving 30-year old bikes

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

From: "Stephen Barner" <steve@sburl.com>
To: <brianbaylis@juno.com>
References: <20040123.100127.6625.90212@webmail11.lax.untd.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Conserving 30-year old bikes
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 14:17:22 -0500
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Brian,

I was just trying to illustrate the point you made in the first sentence of your reply. Saying that every bike should be ridden to the point that a repaint is needed every 30 years is ludicrous, IMHO. Some will need paint in 3, others more. Some bikes should be ridden every day, some saved for sunny Sundays, some put up on the wall and ridden only at the Cirque. I'd say if the paint is 30 years old, one should think more about preserving it than replacing it.

A bike for every purpose. Not really my mantra, but a great excuse as to why I need another one. (and another one, and another one...)

--Steve Barner, who has been accused of having too many bikes since I
acquired the second one, Bolton, Vermont


----- Original Message -----
From: brianbaylis@juno.com
To: steve@sburl.com
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 1:01 PM
Subject: Re: [CR]Conserving 30-year old bikes



>
> Stephen,
>
> I don't know why everyone wants to be on one side of the fence or the other. I keep saying; each bike is an individual case. Obviously what you have needs to be conserved, not restored. Just so it doesn't deteriorate to the point of having no value to anyone in any way. Original is always best; unless it isn't.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> Why bust each others' balls? We all like this stuff the same; we just do it differently.
>
>
>
> -- "Stephen Barner" <steve@sburl.com> wrote:
> 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
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > 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