Donald Gillies wrote:
>
(snip)
> 3. It is HARMFUL to stockpile vintage parts and grouppos in a drawer
> somewhere, "just in case" you need them some day. In fact, it
> encourages others to strip down original bikes and sell off the parts,
> because the hoarding contributes to a vintage parts shortage.
>
> It would be far better and more friendly to the vintage bicycle
> market to stock modern replacement parts or generics as riders -
> where possible - as spares. Nearly all CR sponsors sell these parts.
>
> I know it doesn't make me popular to say this but I believe its the
> truth.
BALLLLLLLONEY!
Most of the collectors I know got their spare parts from bike shops that went out of business. That's where mine came from. The parts were literally going into the dumpster or home with me. Or given to me by racers that had no use for obsolete stuff.
Harmful? I'd say you've got to be kidding, but I know you're not.
I help out friends that need parts they can't find and they do the same for me.
A shortage of vintage parts??? I don't believe this for a second. Maybe more accurately, a shortage of cheap vintage parts!
Chuck "people sometimes even give me the stuff" Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
.