Billy's entry hit home for me. One of the reasons I got out of the bike biz the first time around is because I felt even the pedestrian junk deserved the best treatment. I know....ya gotta make $$$$ to stay afloat, etc, I guess that's why i like teaching people to "do it themselves"... makes it cost-effective and all. The shop I worked at really looked down on French bikes. Hey maybe if they invested in French BB taps.... well anyway. I still look for the best in the lesser grade stuff. "Be, all that you can be" and all that.
I work a little in a shop now, they give me all that stuff along with some really nice stuff.
Speaking of paint: I really enjoy the challenge of mixing up the ol' Testor's to the shade I need. And those little synthetic micro brushes rule!!!!!
Snowed in here in CT with a single barrel bourbon. Glad I ascended Meriden Mt. yesterday for the 50th month in a row! (on Lugged steel, too!)
Mark Hoffman
New Britain, CT
USA