What to do, when a grail bike is the (gasp) wrong color.
#51
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Black saddle and bar tape, Pink or matching cables.
Or brown saddle and matching tape, and white cabling...
Or brown saddle and matching tape, and white cabling...
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh International, 1998 Corratec Ap & Dun, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone
#52
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Eh. Never got to the point of actually "hating" a color (although I had a neighbor who was fond of saying "the emotion of hate is very close to love"). I think it's a pretty awesome shade, personally.
Repaint or not, if you love everything about the bike as-is, except for the color, that would be reason enough for me to repaint it. Don't really buy into the argument that "it will only be original once." Unless it's some kind of historic piece or something. Presumably the frame-building expertise will be apparent in the ride quality, not the color of the pigment on the tubes' surfaces.
When we bought our house here in NC, the living room was painted a deep shade of red. We promptly repainted it white. The old owner came by to pick up her mail and was almost in tears when she saw "her" living room.
Whatevs.
Repaint or not, if you love everything about the bike as-is, except for the color, that would be reason enough for me to repaint it. Don't really buy into the argument that "it will only be original once." Unless it's some kind of historic piece or something. Presumably the frame-building expertise will be apparent in the ride quality, not the color of the pigment on the tubes' surfaces.
When we bought our house here in NC, the living room was painted a deep shade of red. We promptly repainted it white. The old owner came by to pick up her mail and was almost in tears when she saw "her" living room.
Whatevs.
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#53
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It's a blue bike. Changing the color is just like not eating your brussel sprouts........."Kids are starving in India". Eat your damn sprouts.
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#54
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I like blue. However, I'm not a fan of a bicycle being entirely that shade of blue. It might be drastically better with different wheels, a different saddle and bar tape... not to mention that pump (which I wouldn't be surprised to learn was acquired before the paint color was ordered to match). Is there a pump peg on the head tube?
Still too blue? Consider getting the lugs lined.
Still too blue? Consider getting the lugs lined.
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Eh. Never got to the point of actually "hating" a color (although I had a neighbor who was fond of saying "the emotion of hate is very close to love"). I think it's a pretty awesome shade, personally.
Repaint or not, if you love everything about the bike as-is, except for the color, that would be reason enough for me to repaint it. Don't really buy into the argument that "it will only be original once." Unless it's some kind of historic piece or something. Presumably the frame-building expertise will be apparent in the ride quality, not the color of the pigment on the tubes' surfaces.
When we bought our house here in NC, the living room was painted a deep shade of red. We promptly repainted it white. The old owner came by to pick up her mail and was almost in tears when she saw "her" living room.
Whatevs.
Repaint or not, if you love everything about the bike as-is, except for the color, that would be reason enough for me to repaint it. Don't really buy into the argument that "it will only be original once." Unless it's some kind of historic piece or something. Presumably the frame-building expertise will be apparent in the ride quality, not the color of the pigment on the tubes' surfaces.
When we bought our house here in NC, the living room was painted a deep shade of red. We promptly repainted it white. The old owner came by to pick up her mail and was almost in tears when she saw "her" living room.
Whatevs.
#57
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Open ended topic and some with heavy passion, respectfully you're a good caretaker.
You're also, the end user. Face reality. Though some frame builders and painters don't always like the final product or 'flavor' yet out the door it goes. Some may even admit or question why they did 'this' or 'that'. Patience and dealing with a client specifics can be another entire topic.
Change it and make it want you want, its just a bike.
You're also, the end user. Face reality. Though some frame builders and painters don't always like the final product or 'flavor' yet out the door it goes. Some may even admit or question why they did 'this' or 'that'. Patience and dealing with a client specifics can be another entire topic.
Change it and make it want you want, its just a bike.
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Also, that frame had been well-used, and even if I were GTG with the color, the perfectionist that I am, I probably would have still repainted it.
#60
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Subdue the blue metallizzato with a combo of skinwall tyres, stitched handlebar hyde and leather saddle in similar shade of brown. Stainless bottle cage.
This blue is spectacular to me, but totally get that tastes are personal. If the decal colors were yellow, I’d be looking for masi yellow benotto tape (wrapped over white cotton).
Too bad ergos never came with a gum hood option... or did they?
This blue is spectacular to me, but totally get that tastes are personal. If the decal colors were yellow, I’d be looking for masi yellow benotto tape (wrapped over white cotton).
Too bad ergos never came with a gum hood option... or did they?
#61
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Back when Proteus was building custom-order bikes in College Park, MD, we'd get guys coming into our shop in Baltimore from time to time with one of those bikes. Some of the frame/head tube/panel paint schemes looked as if the guy who ordered the bike told the painter to just pick two or three M&Ms out of a bag at random.
#62
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Cool Model B, BTW. The paint on yours looks to be in pretty good shape - better than on mine.
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#64
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Merz, Newlands and DiNucci were all well aware of the rain factor being from here and went to great lengths to mitigate it, Merz used a zinc chromate dip, industrial primer and Imron paint for some of the best state of the art paint in the business as did the others.
I have several bikes from here and none have any real rust issues 50 years later.
PDX and the PNW have been a mecca/epicenter for custom frames for a long time, the quality of the frames and their owners rarely lets rain/rust ever become a problem.
Being newer here, I would encourage more thoughtful consideration before weighing in on something we are very passionate about.
I can assure you that even on the rare occasion that one of these is in rough shape that this is the place where we sort it out and get it turned around.
Many here are expert rock stars and relish the opportunity to save them.
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Back when Proteus was building custom-order bikes in College Park, MD, we'd get guys coming into our shop in Baltimore from time to time with one of those bikes. Some of the frame/head tube/panel paint schemes looked as if the guy who ordered the bike told the painter to just pick two or three M&Ms out of a bag at random.
Not very attractive, but it’s a well built frame. It’s a bit too big for me, so I’ll be moving it on soon
#66
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First of all this bike has zero rust that we can see so far and being a custom from one of the best builders was obviously well taken care of.
Merz, Newlands and DiNucci were all well aware of the rain factor being from here and went to great lengths to mitigate it, Merz used a zinc chromate dip, industrial primer and Imron paint for some of the best state of the art paint in the business as did the others.
I have several bikes from here and none have any real rust issues 50 years later.
PDX and the PNW have been a mecca/epicenter for custom frames for a long time, the quality of the frames and their owners rarely lets rain/rust ever become a problem.
Being newer here, I would encourage more thoughtful consideration before weighing in on something we are very passionate about.
I can assure you that even on the rare occasion that one of these is in rough shape that this is the place where we sort it out and get it turned around.
Many here are expert rock stars and relish the opportunity to save them.
Merz, Newlands and DiNucci were all well aware of the rain factor being from here and went to great lengths to mitigate it, Merz used a zinc chromate dip, industrial primer and Imron paint for some of the best state of the art paint in the business as did the others.
I have several bikes from here and none have any real rust issues 50 years later.
PDX and the PNW have been a mecca/epicenter for custom frames for a long time, the quality of the frames and their owners rarely lets rain/rust ever become a problem.
Being newer here, I would encourage more thoughtful consideration before weighing in on something we are very passionate about.
I can assure you that even on the rare occasion that one of these is in rough shape that this is the place where we sort it out and get it turned around.
Many here are expert rock stars and relish the opportunity to save them.
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#67
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I’ve wanted the tripod of local hand crafted bikes.
Coming from Portland, that means the team behind Strawberry Cycles. Andy Newberry, Jim Merz and Mark DiNucci.
Recently I found the last leg. A stunning DiNucci with full Dura-ace.
A lil background on me; I’m colorblind.
but I see Blue.
I hate blue.
Coming from Portland, that means the team behind Strawberry Cycles. Andy Newberry, Jim Merz and Mark DiNucci.
Recently I found the last leg. A stunning DiNucci with full Dura-ace.
A lil background on me; I’m colorblind.
but I see Blue.
I hate blue.
Last edited by georges1; 11-12-23 at 10:58 AM.
#68
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I always pick carefully my bikes, never had such a mishap.
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#69
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Based on some of the work I've done at the Bike Exchange I'd say longevity of the paint/finish can be a challenge for very small builders who don't have or can't access the capitol equipment required for chemical dip-type surface treatment and prep before paint. I rebuilt a Boone McReynolds frame recently that had a lot of touch-up already performed and rust bubbles appearing here and there (not just on the top tube where sweat falls). It looked to me like Imron paint that had been applied perhaps even directly on the bare metal - I couldn't find evidence of a phosphate coating or primer where the paint was coming up. The paint adhesion just wasn't very good. It's a shame too, because all of the skilled work at the brazed joints and the thinning of lugs was otherwise exemplary. As you mention with respect the Merz frames, not all small builders have this issue - I rebuilt an Ed Litton bike of a similar age about a year earlier and the finish on that bike was far more robust and consequently in much better shape.
Regardless, it would be a shame to change it for any reason unless there is rust, corrosion or something bad we're not seeing, that seems to not be the case.
All my Merz's have original paint and are all in good shape all things considered.
#70
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Finding such a bike in this condition let alone at all is never a mishap IMO, you get what you get when they show up, DiNucci's are so scarce on the ground that I have only seen 1 in real life and only know of 4-5 others, I have 2 Strawberry's that Mark built and they are almost as rare, I was very lucky.
I would buy any DiNucci that showed up regardless of size, color or condition if I could, especially with it being the only PDX triad builder that I don't have yet.
Not holding my breath at this point.
Last edited by merziac; 11-12-23 at 12:58 PM.
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#71
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Finding such a bike in this condition let alone at all is never a mishap IMO, you get what you get when they show up, DiNucci's are so scarce on the ground that I have only seen 1 in real life and only know of 4-5 others, I have 2 Strawberry's that Mark built and they are almost as rare, I was very lucky.
I would buy any DiNucci that showed up regardless of size, color or condition if I could, especially with it being the only PDX triad builder that I don't have yet.
Not holding my breath at this point.
I would buy any DiNucci that showed up regardless of size, color or condition if I could, especially with it being the only PDX triad builder that I don't have yet.
Not holding my breath at this point.
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#72
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On the one hand, it sounds like you already have a DiNucci, it just has a company name on it rather than his own name. On the other hand ... he's still building, right?
#73
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He was on the short list when I built the new Strawberry but I didn't really have an in and was happy to have it be hands on right here in PDX.
I do have 2 he built and another that he designed and has his DNA but an original by him is a goal as a separate thing altogether, an original standalone.
Not very likely at this point but you never know.
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#74
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Well, the paint would only be original once, and the downtube decal is pretty cool. I would strip all the blue parts (maybe you can just strip the blue anodizing layer off the rims with lye / oven cleaner), and if it's still too blue for you, perhaps you can have someone paint some panels on the bike ... give it a 70's vibe .. 1974 raleigh gran sport ...
One of my favorite paint jobs of all time is red with these asymmetric panels :
One of my favorite paint jobs of all time is red with these asymmetric panels :
Last edited by systemBuilder; 11-13-23 at 04:26 PM.