Dear Kai:
Yeah, I could refinish some old parts to get the colour I want, but then we 're getting into murky philosphical waters as to what's fitting, authentic or in the spirit of, vintage-dom. I am, of course no adherent to the cre ed that original finishes on frames are sacred, but somehow I've never been easy with modifying components for purely cosmetic reasons. The parts a re taken as found, and wear their scars proudly.
This is by no means a new debate: we spent lots of time just a while ago debating real vs reproduced pantographed parts, and the concensus was in f avor of the parts milled in the original timeframe of the bike were more re al. Of course counterfiting pantographed parts to reap unjust financial rewards because of what those parts bring is a different kettle of fish fro m what we're discussing, a single user modifying parts that won't leave his possession, but still something in me holds me back, at least until I admi t that I can't find any original parts, at least the arms. Rings I might do as they are a consumable item, but I need the arms to be "real". It' s a crazy hobby we're in, isn't it?
Tom Adams
Manhattan, KS
From: Kai Hilbertz <khilbertz@googlemail.com> Subject: Re: [CR] Bar Tape Taste Test To: thomasthomasa@yahoo.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 7:34 PM
Hey Tom, cc List,
if it isn't a 100% period correct concours build, couldn't you get some silver 175mm Stronglight arms and rings and then have them stripped and ano dized gold?
Geets
Kai Hilbertz Munich, Germany
On 10.03.2009, at 21:16, Thomas Adams wrote:
> Dear list:
>
>
> I need some sage counsel and advice....
> The buildup is featuring gold French parts. No tast
> eful restraint here! Note to friends: never, never, never buy one g
> old doo-dad and think you can walk away from it. You will slowly be driv
> en to try to acquire a full group. A Simplex rear mech was my gateway co
> mponent. You can't help yourself. Resistance is futile. I now ha
> ve gold pedals, gold Mafacs, gold Edco headset, gold Ambrosio rims
(I'm too
> heavy for the Mavic ORO rims), gold Nitto bars, yellow Binda straps----.
> I think my downfall was that great Peugeot poster of Thevent winning th
> e '75(?) tour on the golden Pugeot PY10. Ah, what a lovely pic.
>
> http://us.st12.yimg.com/
>
> (BTW, anyone got a gold Simplex front derailleur and some (Ha Ha!) 175mm
> Stronglight Gold ano arms and rings? Oh, and I want a unicorn, a centau
> r and an honest politician to go with em, too.)...
> So help me out, folks. This isn't a period correct concours build...
> Whad
> dya think?
>
> Tom Adams
> Manhattan, KS