Yep that is one beauty of a trek. I like the understated original slate color mine came with. Something refined about it. The cost of painting isn't bothering me too much, as I have the equipment and expertise, and work in a place where I can get Centari or Chromabase at 10% over cost. The main thing that bothered me is if the bike would be thought of as just another repainted bike.

My LBS's owner powdered a Rossin and it was a top notch job. This is the guy I planned on using. No powder on the fork crown race area, none in the BB threads, or anything you'd expect. I believe the BB and head tube were faced before it was shipped. They're about 25 miles north of town, so shipping was less of a hassle. The place I used to use shot it so thick, it was like they forgot anything was attached to the frame. Sometimes they did an okay job, but for the most part they didn't.,,,,BD