Originally Posted by
67tony
Well I think when the last two of the year starts with a '9' that the C&V folks are a bit less concerned for keeping her perfectly original perhaps. I'd do whatever it takes to make it a nice ride that will perform well and your daughter-in-law will like.
It's still nice to keep an old bike running even if it means changing some things IMO. The top tube on my ol' Schwinn Tempo had some kind of sparkly white (original) makes it nearly impossible to touch up. But I dig the sparkle, wish I could have owned it from new and kept it in original condition.
Originally Posted by
FBinNY
At the time I posted, there was no mention that the OP wasn't the original owner, but that may be besides the point.
I suspect that C&V people fall into two categories, those who treat the bikes as collectibles and are focused on condition and restoration. The others, like myself, appreciate classic bikes as great rides. This is especially true if we've owned and ridden the bike for years or even decades.
Yes people (myself included) tend to make a lot of assumptions. From my point of view I've only owned my current collection of vintage bikes for a couple years so I have no 'history' with any of them.
Some bikes I like to keep original so long as all the original parts function well. I don't mind if they are a little beaten up, scarred, or just showing some age. Even if I don't have a lot of history with a bike I still feel like you with some of them and appreciate it's history, even ask the sellers about any history they may have on the bike just to build a bigger picture. I may treat a couple as collectibles too and focus on condition and restoration, perhaps treating it more like a 'wall hanger'. But I have no problem stripping one down to the frame and replacing with modern parts either, my 6sp DT to 10sp brifter conversion is one of my favorite rides. Depends on the bike, the parts, and my feelings. I don't always fit in just one of "two categories", and I'd hope other C&Vers are also a bit more diverse.