Originally Posted by
georges1
There were frames much better made than the Pinarello Paris with the ugly welds those were the Cannondale Caad 4, Caad 5, Caad 6 and Caad 7 from the Saeco Estro Team as well as the Willier Triestina l'Alpe D'huez Mortirolo Scandium from the Mercatone Uno Team, the Orbea bikes from the Euskadi Euskaltel Team and the De Rosa Merak bikes from the Team Alessio just to name a few.
I am all ears to hear about the praise about the supposed quality of grossly unpolished welds of a Dedacciai 7003 ABT alumnium frame. Most of the tour de France wins for Pinarello were made on 100% steel and on 100% carbon frames and just two tour de France won with the 7003 ABT aluminium frames.
I have no problem with your preferring polished welds. What you don't get is that it's purely subjective: a matter of taste. Many people, including me, admire the beautifully welded "stack of dimes" look on an aluminum frame. If you don't like the look, fine. But don't write of unpolished aluminum welds as if they're objectively ugly. That's just you, and it's insulting to people who own and take pride in such bikes.
Example: Frank the Welder was at one time a frequent presence on Bike Forums and prided himself on his unpolished aluminum welds. People here spoke of his work with admiration and respect.
Here's Frank's website, and here's an example of his beautiful work:
__________________
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
Last edited by Trakhak; 01-15-26 at 02:09 AM.