Originally Posted by Cyclaholic

Hey, beautiful as many bikes in this thread are, it's not all about shiny chrome and dainty paint jobs when it comes to old steel.

I rescued her from big rubbish night oblivion and rebirthed her with whatever I happened to have in the shed. She's definitely a workhorse not a showpony, but she earns her oats and never complains at the abuse and neglect she suffers, even in my hands.

I have no idea what this old girl's history is but her chipped paint and fading decals bear silent witness to a long and hard utilitarial life, and I respect that far too much to ever strip and re-paint her. Perhaps she suffered the elements on a back porch while hearing her owner cheering on his favorite TDF rider and admiring his mighty thoroughbred bike. But like the loyal steed that she is she got her master to work on time the very next morning, quietly leaning against the lamp post she was hurriedly chained to which left yet another mark on her paint, making sure she was ready to get him back home again in the evening in time for him to enjoy the next tour stage.

If only our old bikes could talk....