Originally Posted by
satbuilder
Thanks for all the input.
Now for another question. Does refinishing the bicycle detract from the value? I picked up a set of factory decals fromYellow Jersey a couple years ago and was thinking if I could scrape up the money, to refinish the frame and rebuild or replace some of the worn components. As an example, in the world of older American SXS shotguns for some reason it seems to detract from the value of the gun if it's refinished, while in Great Britain its a widely accepted practice.
Any thoughts?
Often, refinishing does detract from value. Your bike looks like it's in pretty nice shape, actually. If it were mine, I'd leave it alone. If the components are original, I'd leave them alone as well. Of course it's your bike, so do whatever makes you happy. But you may never get your money back out of a restoration. And decent, original examples of any 70's Colnagos are getting more and more scarce. You have the decals, so you can always decide to refinish at some later point, or offer them with the bike to the new owner. You could also touch up the blue so that it blends with the original paint.