To Ride, or Not To Ride (that is the question!)
I think that the ideal situation is to have one vintage bike as a trophy piece, and another to actually ride and enjoy. I have this situation, although I didn't plan for it to work out that way.
My trophy bike is a 1979 Pinarello Treviso, outfitted with NOS Campy SR 7. I restored this bike (thanks to Joe Bell) after 60,000 miles of riding over 13 years, which included five double centuries. It now stands in the second bedroom as a beautiful testimonial to some of the best times I've had in my life.
My working bike is a 1990 Tomasso, which I put together this year from mostly used Campy NR 7. I use this bike as my "short ride" bike and I also take it on vacations. Fun tasks in the assembly included getting a set of Campy NR crankarm refinished by stripping off the anodizing, hand polishing them, and then getting them reanodized. (I did this to remove the excessive but not brutal toe strap wear.) I enjoy the stealthy quiet ride of this bike, and I also get an occasional second look from other cyclists when on the road.
So, what project will you consider next?
Andrew Gillis (in foggy Long Beach, CA)