randyjawa 

Finally got my stuff together and tried to put my thoughts on Should I Paint My Bicycle? together.


And constructive criticism would be much appreciated.

rootboy 

Not me. I vote to leave as is. You'll never replicate that patina. Not that that is the point of a re-paint but... Sun faded. Cracking decals, etc. It's cool like it is.

Nightstalker 6

+1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ leave it.

sced

I'd paint it in a heartbeat, but I like my bikes to look and function like new.

big chainring 

Well done. Always enjoy your thoughts and wonderfully informative website.

rootboy 

Plus, those new vinyl stick on "decals" just don't look as nice as the old water slide decals. IMO.

repechage

I repaint a bike when it was already repainted when I acquired it. This one while suffering the toll of sun, is in good enough shape to leave. If the original components for it are still around, even more reason to just detail it well.

If you want one appearing shiny and new, I would look for another.

One comment about repaints is that even well cleaned used components often just don't look "right" with a frame that looks like it just left the factory.

lotek 

I don't think Randy is asking if he should paint the Bottecchia.
This is about his website and the paint or not section.

then again I could be wrong.

Ex Pres 

I think you're right.

Randy, I skimmed very quickly through the site. It has some good stuff, but I'm not really sure you set your hook soon enough. Some of your best material was on the summary page, and that's good - BUT, you need to lead off with some of that in your opening salvos as well, otherwise the [potential] reader may not go any further.

rootboy 

Oh. Whoops. With the pics of that nice old Bott there I figured he was asking whether or not to.... Shoulda known better with Randy. I thought it kind of odd he would ask that question. OK Randy. Going to go in and look at your site.

dbakl

I try and save the original if there's anything much left at all. If it's already been repainted or in really sad shape, anything could be an improvement.

My Raleigh paint was actually in not very good shape. I repainted areas with a brush and enamel, rubbed them out, replaced some decals and waxed the heck out of it. At arms length, it looks pretty good.

The Capo was in even sadder shape. The previous owner had taken a torch to it to remove various braze-ons. The chrome is rusted. But the more I looked at it, the more I fell in love with the original look, so I just touched it up as best I could. Still crude, but I really like it.

randyjawa 

Some of you are correct. I am not at all interested in should I paint that old Bottecchia Model Special, or not. That frame set is long gone. I just wanted to let people, who might be interested, know that I had published a new article in MY "TEN SPEEDS".

kroozer 

I liked it, Randy, it's a good, concise overview. I think you pounded home the don't-repaint-it message enough, and covered the basic pitfalls of repainting pretty well.

I have repainted two of my bikes --one of which did not need it at all-- and one thing I would like to add is how fun it can be. It involves you much more closely with the frame, and a DIY repaint really makes it feel like it's your own restoration and not someone else's. You can exercise your creativity and make something beautiful that gives you a lot of satisfaction and makes you want to get out and ride it. I would not do this to all my bikes by any means, but I really enjoyed it when I did.

SteveSGP

Great write up, very well done.

I noticed a few typos but I won't bother pointing them out unless you want me to. Actually I will point out two because spell check won't catch them as they're correctly spelled but not what you meant.

I think you'll be able to figure out the issues and where they came from.

"Rust is always an issue with steel frame and fork sets. Simply put, you must get rid of the rust or be ready for the rust to rust away the bicycle, more and more, with the passing of time. Rust, running rampant, necessitates a complete paint job as was the case with this late seventies Cambio Rino 2000. However, and in all honesty, the decision to paint the Cambio Rino was a mistake. Only the fork set had suffered enough damage to warrant a repaint. It would have been much wiser to just color match and repaint the fork set, rather than the entire bicycle. Sadly, with the wrong decision made, an original and rare road bicycle, became a non-original and rare road bicycle. Value was lost and cash was spent to help loose that value."

"The home paint job is always the least expensive way to go, when full cosmetic repair is deemed necessary. At a minimum, the list of materials needed will include: sand paper and/or paint stripper, spot filler (perhaps), masking tape, primer, undercoat (perhaps), color coat and even a final clear coat . Additionally, unless the work can be preformed out of doors, a facility must be available to complete the task."

bibliobob

My work filter (Smartfilter DA) blocks your site and classes it as porn! I'd better take a look when I get home tonight. I haven't seen it in a while and maybe you've added some sexy photos!

wrk101

The basic model I always use on public speaking and writing is:

1. First you tell them what you are going to tell them.

2. Then you tell them.

3. Then you tell them what you just told them.

By using this method, you entice the reader or lister to pay attention/read more. The attention span of most people is very, very short.


I don't know if I picked this up at Dale Carnegie, or wherever. It has always worked pretty well for me.

peter_d

Thanks Randy, very pertinent and informative as usual. I'll be facing that question in the next few weeks so it was good to read your thoughts on it.

afilado

That's the MILITARY way, Wild Bill. At least I heard it a lot a long time ago.

J