Originally Posted by
Chris_in_Miami
It's hard to tell for sure from the photos, but it doesn't look like the rust is very extensive. If it's just rusty because the paint was chipped off (versus aggressive rust that bubbled through the paint,) a touch up will keep it in check, but it will always look touched up.
I happen to like patina, so I'd vote for that approach. The local powdercoater that I've dealt with charges $125 for a frame & fork including stripping.
Yeah, I think it's just surface rust due to chipped paint. (I think PO had his wife ride it year round in NYC, so lots of bangs, coupled with some snow/salt).
I don't think my wife would mind the look of touch up and a bit of patina, but in its current form, it looks too much for me and looks like it'll keep getting worse.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?), 1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"