[CR] Care of vintage bikes

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

From: Tom Sanders <tom@orderandchaos.com>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 06:52:09 -0400
Thread-Index: AcpDTmNwDO+rgCbkQP6ymyERHQBzog==
Subject: [CR] Care of vintage bikes


I'd say it all depends on your bike shop. When you find a good one, really go out of your way to cultivate a good relationship with them. I am fortunate to have one with a 40 year mechanic who is just a super guy and I'm proud to count him as a friend. He takes such pride in his work, that he will often insist that I bring the bike back in the off season so that he can do something that he sees could be done better. We have spent many a slow afternoon drinking coffee and puttering on one of my bikes. He loves vintage and just lights up like a light when I bring him something neat. The guy is sheer joy to be around. It is really fun to see him take a really recalcitrant tire and just roll it onto a rim with his fingers after the shop guys have broken tire irons on it. He weighs maybe 130# soaking wet and all are in awe of his ability to do this. He can figure out ways to do things that I have thought impossible.

One caveat: you may have to ask that he do the work himself and not give to one of the young kids in the shop. I have had a couple of less than satisfactory experiences when that happens. I also try to take most of my work to him in the off season, and let him not get tied up with it during the shop's peak season.

If you've got a good bike guy, for goodness' sake do patronize him (or her, my buddy Karen is about as capable as anyone I know) and they can for sure use the income.

Tom Sanders

Lansing, MI USA