I deeply appreciate all of the heartfelt responses I've received on my proposed "heresy."
I want to ride this Allegro, not collect it. It will probably need repainting simply in order to withstand regular use without risk, but my goal is not a "restoration," although I want to be sensitive to its history. (My mother is a historian, and I am a practicing Episcopalian, to explain my word choices.) I have ridden the AIDS/ LifeCycle rides from SF-LA twice on my beloved Eisentraut, which has several chips in its paint job from those tough-on-the-finish rides, and would probably ride the Allegro in a similar fashion.
Saving money on parts was never my goal. (Has any passionate cyclist ever put saving money first?!) I just never liked all the slippage and loosening that occurred with my Raleigh Pro's cable guides, bottle cages, etc., regardless of whether I taped under them, etc. On a show bike this would not matter, but I am not interested in restoring and showing this bike, as many of you are (and I respect your efforts and achievements, believe me).
In an ideal world (and with a much bigger budget), I would consider chroming the fork, lugs, and rear stays and add the top-level detailed paint and transfers of the prettiest Allegros. But I would still add a plastic under-BB cable guide, shift lever bosses, TT cable guides, and bottle cage mounts. I would probably even (gasp!) spread the rear triangle to 126mm, which I saw done and had done on my own bikes over the years on many steel frames. It is also possible that I might build it up initially (pre-refinishing) as a performance "fixie" for use around town. (All of this frame alteration and finishing work would, of course, be done by competent professionals-- I am not a DIY welder or metal plater... :-) And I will not do any of this work if I build the bike up and determine that I do not like the way it rides "as is."
Again, my goal is to ride this bike, enjoy it, and want to set it up to work appropriately. At the same time, I want to reiterate how much I appreciate the generous assistance and advice offered by many CR members, both on- and off-list. I have already learned a great deal from you, and I am grateful.
If I am going to be a heretic, it will be as a highly conscious and at least somewhat ambivalent one. :-)
Appreciatively--and not-yet-heretically yours,
Jon Spangler
Alameda, California USA
hudsonspangler@earthlink.net
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:56:24 -0700 (PDT) From: gillies@ece.ubc.ca (donald gillies) To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Heresy? Adding braze-ons to a "classic" frame Message-ID: <20080805045624.8305B7684@ug7.ece.ubc.ca> Precedence: list Message: 5
So here's my take on adding braze-ons to an Allegro.
- You are adding $75 of braze-ons to forgo $48 in parts ?? And, you are harming the original state of the frame to overspend on these braze-ons ??
$10 campy NOS top-tube cable clips, 3x, NOS, ebay $20 campy VG clamp-on shifters, net increase in price from $15 for braze-ons $15 campy NOS downtube cable guide $3 stainless bottle clamps from QBP
I don't think it makes much sense, and it might harm the resale value of your original frameset. Think a little bit about the next guy, maybe he's a minimalist fixie rider or collector / restorer ??
There is a good reason to use an under-BB plastic or campy downtube cable guide. The shifter wire will eventually wear through the metal or plastic, at which point you can easily replace the guides and keep riding. Braze-on guides are not so easily replaced.
- Don "retro-grouch" Gillies
San Diego, CA
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