Do your ride expensive/correctly restored bikes?

[Real1]

I'm very pleased that so many Cabers are riding their restored bikes. So many hobbies past & present I've been involved with are just restoring museum pieces.

Even in vintage chainsaws, if you can believe it, they restore them like new and put them on display 'shelves' never to be used.....then wax poetic about what a 'great' saw' they are after running half a tank through one. That especially irks me because until very recently, I was still using them professionally. Further, weekend warriors invent their own fantasies and lore surrounding the actual use of chainsaws back in the day. So in essence, the real history of using them is being lost.

OTOH, most boys/girls had bikes or 'a bike' of some sort and so the stories using them are real & heartfelt. Especially if a boy or girl had to live on one to get around or work. The same can be said about young adults who were car-less, in college, or just too poor to have a car yet. The true history of using bikes, therefore, cannot be erased easily.......

Kevin

 

[olklunker65]

I've never owned a bike I wouldn't ride. To me not riding them is just crazy talk. If more people rode their bikes they wouldn't have to criticize people that do

 

[Balloontyre]

If more people rode their bikes they wouldn't have to criticize people that do

It's actually quite the opposite, it's the people that ride bikes that criticize those who don't.

 

[Coalfield]

Restoration - not exactly sure what that means to everyone. I like to take old framesets with paint still decent and get them on the road with mostly 'period correct' parts. I'm into the ride more than a full restore, but I want them to look old and appreciated as transportation.

AustroDaimler Olympian

Batavia Competition

Carabela

DeRosa

BIANCHI Vittoria

Rickert

Zeus

Well you get the idea.
It's more about the ride than the bike - and I'm better at riding Classic than looking Classic.

 

[Porkchop & Applesauce]

For me personally….i think there’s room for everyone’s take on this. Weather you ride em or hide em it’s all about the people and the connections you have. From your family and friends to the perfect stranger. Most people have a connection to a bicycle. Balance in this hobby is what keeps it all so interesting! So if you’re like Bob U and do the perfect restoration or taco Chris and prefer all the crust and rust it’s all about the passion for the hobby!

 

[Freqman1]

Restoration - not exactly sure what that means to everyone. I like to take old framesets with paint still decent and get them on the road with mostly 'period correct' parts. I'm into the ride more than a full restore, but I want them to look old and appreciated as transportation.
View attachment 1963228
AustroDaimler Olympian
View attachment 1963230
Batavia Competition
View attachment 1963233
Carabela
View attachment 1963246
DeRosa
View attachment 1963245
BIANCHI Vittoria
View attachment 1963248
Rickert
View attachment 1963255
Zeus

Well you get the idea.
It's more about the ride than the bike - and I'm better at riding Classic than looking Classic.
View attachment 1963235

By definition ‘restoration’ is returning to original condition. If other than that then it’s refurbished, modified, customized, etc…

 

[Coalfield]

So,...worn original parts must be replaced? Scratches,...'professionally' touched up. If I buy a frameset and the selected Campy NR rear derailleur has a date code not matching the frame? Freewheels must be vintage? No substitutions for wider range of gears? Perfect chrome?

IMHO, There is room for some interpretation in the word Restoration. Patina is not a derogatory term.

edit: But,...totally agree there is a difference between restoration and - refurb, re-assemble, re-grease, period correct rebuild, etc.

Perhaps in the world of lightweights (my only serious cycling experience), so many bikes were sold as framesets with optional gruppos, or custom builds common for the most valuable or collectible bikes - that I take a wider view on restoration. Paint is only original once - repainted is not original.

....need to replace that older rear tubular for a photo. But, it is a rider.

 

[Grey Ghost]

So,...worn original parts must be replaced? Scratches,...'professionally' touched up. If I buy a frameset and the selected Campy NR rear derailleur has a date code not matching the frame? Freewheels must be vintage? No substitutions for wider range of gears? Perfect chrome?

IMHO, There is room for some interpretation in the word Restoration. Patina is not a derogatory term.

edit: But,...totally agree there is a difference between restoration and - refurb, re-assemble, re-grease, period correct rebuild, etc.

Perhaps in the world of lightweights (my only serious cycling experience), so many bikes were sold as framesets with optional gruppos, or custom builds common for the most valuable or collectible bikes - that I take a wider view on restoration. Paint is only original once - repainted is not original.
View attachment 1963505
....need to replace that older rear tubular for a photo. But, it is a rider.

I agree with you about frameset racing bikes, they could be any mix of components and still qualify as “stock”
But that Zeus of yours better be all Zeus components to be considered “original”,

Boy, they did a great job cloning Campy components didn’t they?

 

[Coalfield]

The Zeus - All Zeus except Cinelli bar&stem, BB (which I don't remember), but not all from one group. Even the repop hoods were made in Spain. Zeus hubs were later. Generic leather saddle. But it was hardly all Zeus'ed on the first build. Even the frameset took a little effort to get all 'straightened out'. I never claimed it was a restoration, but a lot of fun to make it Spanish again. Who would touch those decals because of some blemishes - after 50+ years???

edit: Regardless of the build, it was always a good vintage rider. On the smallish side of perfect fit. Now gone.

Side pulls or center pulls = new hoods made it nicer

 

[jacob9795]

I guess it’s different for classic cars. That’s how it is with modern road bikes, parts are switched or upgraded.
I wouldn’t mind riding a restored shelby speedline airflo