Originally Posted by
Kommisar89
You know the problem I have with some of you guys' definition of "conservation" is that it should really only apply to a very small percentage of bikes of great historical sigificance like Fausto's or Eddie's that belong in a museum. Carried to the extreme that you guys are stating then every bike that isn't NOS/NIP stored in a wearhouse someplace for 40 years is "restored" because the original owner certainly had to perform standard maintenance and replace chains, freewheels, brakepads, etc.
Conservation in a broad sense should include normal maintenance and repair that is expected of a bicycle of that age to make it useable. Restoration is mainly a oriented towards the frame and should include things like chrome, paint, and decals.
Otherwise it's like saying that a vintage car that's had the oil and filters changed and the brake pads/shoes replaced isn't "original". Seems crazy to me.
Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. I was waiting for someone to bring the frame issue up. What all this boils down to is whether or not you consider the bike as a whole (frame fork and ALL components) or just the frame as the bike. Are you "conserving" the bike if you leave well enough alone on the frame but replace the parts as needed?