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Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:22:01 -0800 From: "charles nighbor" <cnighbor@pacbell.net> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Is pantograph cool or ulgy
A partial quote from a previous CR digest reads, "......The point though, is that the pantographed stem/stamped-bar combo is super-cool, and far more interesting to see than the usual Cinelli bars-and-stem. For those of us who get pleasure from that particular coolness-factor, the Cinelli stuff is boring; the 3ttt stuff is interesting......". I disagree with that partial quote. As an artist and Architect I find most bicycle components that are pantographed ugly and super cool. I am of the School of thought that less is more. Looking a non pantographed Cinelli stem I find the very clean lines marred and ugly when intruded on with pantographing. Then to add color further adds to the undesirability of it from a, "less is more view point". A Hetchins ornate lugs are nice but are they to be preferred over the clean ,"less is more" lugs of a 1970's California built Masi frame. I say no. A pantographed brake set with the typical red, yellow and green colors applied in the resulting grooves is even more of a joke. I prefer to enjoy and prefer a bike without any pantographing, clean non-ornate lugs and a very tasteful letter style frame makers name applied to the down tube only. I an sure that most of CR members will agree with me and share my views. If not I will hear from the few that do not. Charles Nighbor, Architect Walnut Creek, CA 94597
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personally i really think panto'd parts are uber-cool and very eye appealing. and that sometimes, more is, well, more. so i can't say i really share your views. and that i would prefer the ornate lugs of say a hetchins over the straighter lines of most other lug sets. and actually, i find the Italia lug design on hetchins my least favorite.
though i can appreciate the clean, smooth lines and simplicity of the forms. i guess i'm really a suckr for ornate lugs, and panto'd bits.
so guess that's good because if we all liked the same thing, imagine ebay prices then! :)
Eric Acuna
Santa Rosa, CA