Hi all.
This is a call for subject bikes for one of the presentations at Le Cirque in June. I'll be leading a conversation about questions surrounding restoration of vintage lightweights. I'll have a number of pictures to show, and comments to make, but this is really a kind-of group-mind entertainment, and we need some actual bikes to look at and discuss, bikes involving various restoration problems. I could really use 5-10 subject bikes that need restoration of some kind.
I did this Fun Thing with Jay van de Veldt at the Velo-Rendezvous last Fall, and everyone enjoyed it. Jay may or may not be able to make this one. In any case, a second co-leader will be announced before the event.
Variety is key, and I'll need some pictures to determine whether I can use your bike in the discussion.
Here are the kinds of things I'm looking for:
A very well-used classic. Everything is there, and looking good, and the bike is actually or potentially functional with very little work, but it has *lots* of patina. All-original preferred, or close to it. The sort of bike that some people would want to restore, but you would never do such a thing <g>
A repaint/restoration that, in whatever way, just didn't work out too well.
A frame or bike that is totally trashed, but worth restoring..or rather, you want to restore it (*worth* being a somewhat vague word).
Frames requiring restoration where the graphics are still pretty much intact, but the paint is a mess.
A Swiss (or other, but usually Swiss) frame you want to restore that needs fancy smoked or fade paint, lots of pinstripes and fancy graphics, and chrome.
Any frame or bike you want to restore, for whatever reason.
Any bike that has numerous fancy finish details, in the paint, graphics, or metal-work (I'm thinking certain british frames here)
I'd like to have a selection of frames or bikes on hand that will illustrate various major problems of lightweight restoration.
Please send a description and good detail pictures of any bike or frame you'd like considered for inclusion. You'd surely get a lot of interesting, specific ideas for your particular bike or frame, and we'll learn a lot discussing it!
...and, if I don't use your frame, I may use your pictures, so the more good pics showing various interesting details, the better.
Oh, you will need to bring said bike or frame to the Cirque!
Thanks!
Charles Andrews
SoCal