Mark, I'm glad hanging around the list has begun to influence your thinking. After several years on the list, I'm now much less inclined to refinish a bike than I was before I joined. I think you'll find that the majority of us think you should never refinish an original classic bike unless it is just completely beat. In other words, if there is even a question in your mind, leave the bike as it is. There are some really good restorers on the list, but I think their excellent services are best used when someone has already painted over the original finish and one is trying to restore it to the original appearance. I think this is particularly true of a celeste Torpado. Not only is this the signature color of that model and probably Torpado in general, but it is much closer to "sky blue", the literal meaning of "celeste", and a sharp contrast to the pea soup green which Bianchi calls celeste. And even if the color is ugly to your eye knowing it is the "correct" color should provide some satisfaction. I have to confess that, looking at it objectively, Bianchi's version of celeste is pretty hideous. Yet I wouldn't ride a Bianchi any other color - it just wouldn't feel "right". There is too much tradition there, including Fausto Coppi. I also have a pink Mercier frame I have yet to build up. I don't fancy riding a pink bike around Houston, TX, but I would never dream of painting a Mercier a different color - just wouldn't be "right", after Raymond Poulidor rode a pink Mercier to a podium finish all those times in the Tour de France.
Of course you're entitled to do as you please with the bike, but since you are asking for opinions, mine is "Don't do it."
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Hi all,
> Reading the postings to this list really causes me to think about a lot
of
> things that I might not have otherwise. I'm very grateful for that, and I
> thank you all. This leads me to pose a refinishing question that has
> probably passed this list many times in the past. There is also a
question
> about tubing at the end of this post.
>
> What criteria do "we" use in determining whether or not a vintage
frameset
> should be refinished or not, and if so, how to do it.
> I really do love the ride of my Torpado Superlight (about 3.8lbs, frame
> only), and the brazings make it an awesome classic as far as I'm
concerned.
> According to the information I read here on the CR website (see link
below),
> this was their best frame, and it is painted just like the one pictured.
The
> paint job has a few little nicks here and there, but not too bad at all
> really. The chrome shows just a bit of wear, but polishing hides it very
> well. There is virtually zero rust, and what might be there could
probably
> be polished out too. When I originally decided to keep this bike, I
figured
> that I would have it refinished with a color scheme that is more to my
liking
> (I'm not a lover of teal, aqua, celeste, or anything like them). I have
> spent months now looking at thousands of frame pics and drawing little
> versions with color to help me make a choice.
> However, after reading these mailings here, I have begun to develop a
> different understanding of what it means to keep a vintage classic
> lightweight. I'm starting to think that it may be my duty, if you will,
to
> preserve this bike in it's original form, as best I can. It occurs to me
> that any diversion from original, including the paint, reduces it's
> authenticity. My concern is not about possible future resale value, as
these
> Torpados don't seem to really move anyone except me. It is the idea of
> respecting this work of art, as it was created, that is bugging me I
guess.
> Understand that I basically hate the paint job as far as color that
pleases
> my eyes goes. I would love to see it painted black, with yellow lugs and
> decals, and black highlights in all the awesome pantographs and lug
cutouts;
> or maybe an all "black chrome" or "polished hematite" looking finish with
> chromed lugs; or maybe... Or maybe, anything I might do, pretty as it may
be
> to me (the intended user for a long, long time) has nothing to do with
what a
> genuine Torpado Superlight is all about, and should look like. So, even
> though I do not love the paint as one of "Mark's favorites", I have
developed
> a certain respect and reverence for it, entirely because it is exactly
what
> the builder envisioned, planned out, and carried out. It is the original,
> and perhaps that ultimately cannot be surpassed.
> Have any of you gone through this same decision process? How did you
> resolve it, if you have? Are my wants more important than the builder's,
or
> is it the other way around? Do I take away from, or possibly ruin the
> classic value of the bike if I refinish it differently? I would genuinely
> appreciate any and all feedback you guys may have for me. It is always my
> intent to "do the right thing", in every aspect of my life, but I just
don't
> know what that means here, and I need your help.
> Here is the Torpado link: <
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
>
> My second question is about seat tube thickness. I have a Colnago with
> Super decals on the stays, but also with the "Record Ora Mexico 1972"
decal
> on the top of the seat tube. All drops are Campy (short style in the
rear),
> forks are not chromed, cable guides are brazed on the top of the b.b.
shell,
> and I can see pins through the shell, and also in the bottom of the fork
> steerer. I just assumed that the seat post required would be 27.2mm, but
a
> Campy S.R. would not fit inside. It appears that a 27mm is in order,
because
> a 26.8 was too loose. Does this sound correct? Any guesses to the
approx.
> year of frame while we're at it? Would it be a Super, or a Mexico?
> What determines the thickness of tubing, the material used? Is there a
> simple rule of thumb that I can follow to avoid trial and error and ease
> planning in the future?
>
> Sorry I have thrown in so much at once, but this pondering keep me up
at
> night!!! I figure that it is better to know the opinions of those that
have
> crossed these paths before me. This is why I am learning so much from
> reading the posts. Thanks very much...
>
> Best regards,
> Mark Agree
> Detroit MI