In a message dated 2/1/2003 8:46:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, John Pergolizzi
writes in response to Morgan Fletcher:
> Remember: once original is lost, its lost.
I just spent two months wrestling with this idea. I was fortunate enough to
recently acquire e-RICHIE's 22nd RS bike. It was in very interesting shape;
largely unridden in almost 28 years, but nicked and chipped from
storage/handling/etc., as well as filthy. It had last been ridden in a sandy
environment and put away like that (oil, sand, dust, lots of dust). There
were so many chips I wanted to have it repainted. I had asked e-RICHIE who
had painted it, and it had been a local Connecticut painter, so I thought it
would be a favor to the bike, but the more I thought about it, the more I
wanted to keep the original patina.
Also, because I couldn't get the freewheel off (thanks to everyone who
responded to that question), I kind of eased into the maintenance of the
original. So I took it all apart (except the freewheel), cleaned it, greased
it and put it back together. I did replace the Avocet saddle with a Brooks
Team Pro, and the Dia Compe Gran Compe brakes with Campagnolo NRs, and the
tired brake cables, but otherwise left it alone.
It came with early Phil Wood bottom bracket and hubs (& Mavic Module E rims),
early gen Dura Ace crankset and Crane RD, SunTour Cyclone (endless band) FD
and DT levers, Campagnolo headset and seatpost, Cinelli old logo bars and
stem, TA Plum cage, and Silca Impero pump with Campagnolo head.
I put new Continental tires and tubes on it and took it on a 20 miles
shakedown cruise today. I believe it to be Reynolds 531 tubing, and it had a
very fine ride to it. I had an epiphanic moment realizing this was brazed up
by a young man not yet 25. I have other Sachs bikes built by a young man
refining his craft, and by a man approaching 50, near the height of his
skills. Each is elegant: a work of art in my eyes, yet, also a tool to allow
me to spin, and breathe, and reach, and see. It extends me beyond me, and
leaves me exhilarated.
I used to think I wanted "one of this" and "one of that" and "one of
something else" but I might be perfectly content riding one Richard Sachs
bike after another.
Tom Donahue
Melbourne, FL