Don wrote:
Don Wilson <dcwilson3@yahoo.com> wrote: Am I the only one around here who gets all excited about rehabilitating a vintage lightweight, finishes the detective work and rehabilitation (even if its just partial), feels a considerable sense of accomplishment, and then a few days later gets a let down? Does anyone else start feeling a bit unfullfilled and then soon after find themselves prowling thrift stores and surfing ebay and craig's list looking for the next project. Am I alone here, or are there enough of us out there to start a 12 step group? :-)
Don Wilson Los Olivos, CA USA
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I find I get continued enjoyment from the completed project as long as I have it, no let-down. I'll be showing a couple of those at the Cirque restoration seminar.
I have found though, in general, the bikes that give the most pleasure are those that were/are completely original from the spokes on out. All others have a slightly frankensteinian vibe to them, even when assembled with absolute fidelity to the original. For instance, every time I go into my garage I pause to admire the Ciocc Designer I have hanging just by the door. Original in every respect, very few miles on it. With a little polish and cleaning it'll look new. Early 80s bike; for some, not much to get excited about, but I love it...fully panto'd throughout, all original parts right down to the little yellow rubber caps on the cable ends, and the Almarc leather bar-cover. The best part about it is I didn't have to do a thing to it except re-lube all the bearings. This bike has more than returned its modest purchase price in sheer viewing pleasure, even though I've not ridden it an inch.
then there's that Condor pathracer (thanks Sterling!); Dale's admired this one, as have many others. completely original. It appears to have been bought in the late 1950s somewhere in San Diego, driven home in the car, *maybe* ridden on the track a few times, at most...then put away for 40 years. It is an absolutely amazing bike, and if I had to thin the herd substantially someday I wouldn't even think about letting this one go.
Originality is king, emperor, god. All others are just repros, in one way or another..
Charles Andrews
SoCal