[CR]Epiphany-Revelation

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

From: "John Barron" <jb@velostuf.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 16:34:04 -0600
Thread-Index: AccF4X2tNo1U8/vaRKKwH/qMBmT5EQ==
Subject: [CR]Epiphany-Revelation

Don't let the title fool you. This has been coming for several years.

I have decided, once and for all, that bike owners get to decide how their bikes get built-up, adorned, painted, etc., and whatever they do is OK with me. Moreover, what they do is *great* because it has been conceived by them, with (presumably) thoughtfulness, purpose and care. There are a lot of different approaches to this vintage bike hobby, and it's arrogant for me to put my values on to someone else. I can certainly tell others (and the world) what *my* preferences are, (www.velostuf.com) but it's up to them to decide if that's right for them.

I have a customer who is willing to re-paint a perfectly good/original bike frame. Is that a shame? For him, no. For me, yes. But hey, he's a smart guy. In fact, he's a very sophisticated collector, and his opinion is not only valid, it's 100% correct. for him. That's all that really matters.

I've heard, that as one gets older, it's "bad" if that person moves farther to the extreme in one way or another. It's "good" if they gently move to the center. I think that I'm moving to the center, and it feels good.

There's a phrase that "youngsters" use these days, "It's all good". I like that. I've got my thing and they have theirs. And, by golly, my thing might change in the future. What the hell's wrong with that?

John "It's All Good" Barron

Minneapolis Minnesota