Pinstriping, was [CR]Prugnat Paramount (PP) vs Nervex

(Example: Framebuilders:Brian Baylis)

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 10:00:18 -0500
From: "Daniel Artley" <dartley@co.ba.md.us>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Pinstriping, was [CR]Prugnat Paramount (PP) vs Nervex


To me, pinstriping is an art form. Just as Art Stump does beautifully filligreed cutouts on bike components and lugs, pinstriping is an art form in itself. Every person that does it has his own particular style unless it is just copying a style. In music some artists fill a piece with notes, others have an economy of style that can be even more beautiful.

A true pin stiping artist can make the lugs appear to have a reflected shadow of stripe. I like to see character in the striping. The use of a brush that doesn't always have the perfect line, the width changes as the striper bears down a bit on the brush. Just as a fleur de lis (sp?) isn't just a few lines together but a tapered flowery shape, that's a pretty kind of stripe. Every type of striping has its own beauty. Outlining the lug is great when done well, lines following the curves of a fender or tube can be really sweet. Multiple colors can really bring out our desire for a bike so nice.

And as in every form, there are better and worse versions. We've all seen pretty crude work as well. Wish I could stripe well.

Dan, The Bikin' Fool with a bit of Von Dutch in my heart, Artley Parkton, Maryland

ps: Been building my first set of wheels with those newfangled aero rims on classic Campy hi flange track hubs. Those stinkin' holes come out the wrong side of the rim from the cutout on the tire side. Strip all the spokes out of one side, move the spokes on the other side one hole and rebuild.