Originally Posted by
Troul
the idea (of sullying) is wrong if the idea is to spend money on a bicycle for the purpose of what it is to then spend more money & effort changing it in the attempt to defeat theft &/or vandalism.
If I want to buy a piece of art, I'll buy a piece of art.
I'm not buying a new bike to appreciate its aesthetics, I'm buying a new bike to get from point-A to point-B. When I'm not riding it, it will be locked up, often outside, often not where anyone is watching it.
fwiw, it's being built with almost nothing higher-specced than Deore. It'll be an good bike to ride, regardless of what the paint looks like. I've never cried when any of my commuter bikes got scratched up; if I didn't want them getting scratched up, I'd lock them in the garage and never ride them.