Perhaps the market for vintage bicycles is still young, with many who have come to it relatively recently?
When this happens, while many may not yet be fully steeped in the tradition and in the historical values, there is often an urge by the new owners to want to "make" their acquisition "theirs" by doing things like re-painting, modifying, etc.
They may not have realized yet that the precious things will not be "theirs" forever, that they are merely caretakers along a chain of caretakers, and that this is a trust.
I'm all for riding the bikes, keeping the machines fully roadworthy, well tuned, out of torrential rains or flood-prone basements, not crashing them, replacing with period-correct parts, etc. Even a new Reynolds or Columbus decal or maker's badge to replace a disintegrated original.
But please don't repaint if the machine has any genuine historical value (i.e. it's rare or very old or unque) or unless it is really too battered to be a viable rider.
An exception is when the bike has been refinished by some previous owner-hack with the wrong colours or a really botched job. Then by all means resurrect the trusty steed, but faithfully.
Emanuel Lowi Montreal,Quebec
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