If I buy a bike and never plan to take it to a show, does it really matter what I do with it? Is my mortality a factor to be considered since in reality, the bike is only passing through my hands and will eventually end up in someone else's hands? Do I have an obligation from an ethical standpoint to keep the bike as original as possible, because the next owner may want to show it? We've debated often whether as collectors and hobbyists we have this obligation. Take for example the Bruce Gordon on Ebay that was outed this week. It has a show history, so in a way, it is a significant bike from that perspective. It appears to have most of the original parts, a very nice dark anodized and gold plated Campagnolo Record group from the early 80s. It has even been suggested that the little gold moon crescents were cut out of a pure gold coin. At over $900 an ounce, that should get your attention. But, if one is to buy this bike, should ethics be a consideration in the decision about removing the gold, to melt, damaging the originality and the frame in the process? Or, does it prohibit the owner from removing that nice group to put on another bike where it will look equally good? To what lengths do we go? Lou Deeter, Orlando FL USA
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