In a message dated 12/7/2001 10:18:19 PM Central Standard Time, rchasteen@kc.rr.com writes:
> I'm going to meditate here and say it is closer to Jeremy's description than
> Cal's. It would still make a nice project.
>
I don't dispute Jeremy's description.
But to say it is in "really bad shape" is overstating it a bit (from my point of view). The distinction is purely subjective. Two riders facing the same hill can see the grade differently. This bike just isn't that much of a challenge if you have any patience at all. Pitting rust and surface rust are two very different problems. I've attacked bikes in worse condition and the effort was well justified by the results. An extra fine wire brush wheel and a washing machine motor is a good investment. It makes short work of rust. Having some facility with an air brush is helpful, too
But now if I were to run into any really tough mechanical problems, of course I'd have to take it down to Jeremy to figure out so he could say "I told you so"(even though I know he graciously wouldn't).
I neglected to mention the tires which aren't really that much trouble to remove. The replacement tires, moreover, are readily available. Several years back I bought one of the two tires Chris had ordered for this bike-- it was the same size as what I needed for the rear wheel of my Raleigh delivery bike(cycletruck).
Originally there were two such bikes in Chris' shop. As I recall the other was a Motobecane and may still be in town(watch those southtown estate sales, guys). Both from the same customer (an elderly French woman) and the same era. Chris ended up with this one in a trade.
Calvert Guthrie
KC