Re: [CR]Restoration/conservation : example 3 (Peugeot)

(Example: Humor)

Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:09:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Restoration/conservation : example 3 (Peugeot)
To: alexpianos@yahoo.fr, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <635312.69656.qm@web26601.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>


Interesting. Is that a Stronglight model 49 A(cier), the steel counterpart of a 49 D(ural)?

Regards,

Jerry Moos Big Spring, Texas, USA

alex m <alexpianos@yahoo.fr> wrote: Something different again : a bike that COULD be ridden practically as is. But it would be a shame to ride it into the ground :

http://www.reneherse.com/peugeotredracer.html

I personally am keeping it absolutely as is. Any future custodian will have the choice of what he wants to do with it.

I really think both approaches are needed : the vast majority of bikes shou ld be kept "alive" and ridden, but not repainted unless what is left is bey ond conservation (or there are already a mass of identical bikes in better condition available, cf Colnagos). A minority of bikes, the "ultra-rare", b ikes with a history, bikes in fabulous "patina" condition, should be left " as found"; and not ridden.

Certainly if you look at other fields, the general consensus is that over-r estoration has done great harm. Take architecture for example : an unbeliev able number of romanesque churches here in SW France were irremediably ruin ed in the 19th C by disciples of Viollet-le-Duc (with less talent than the master) trying to put the monuments back into "an ideal state that may neve r have existed".

To come back to bikes : so many early bicycles that had good original finis h, transfers, etc, have been ruined for ever by repaint re-nickel jobs (poo rly done most of the time) where a careful clean/wax would have done wonder s.

Certainly here in Europe the general move is away from restoration/repaint/ rechrome whenever possible.

Alexander March Bordeaux France=0A=0A=0A ______________________________________________________