We are all flawed cosmetically.
Search for the soul through N+1.

The vote seems evenly split between the Bianchi and the Raleigh at this point. The lack of support for the Serotta seems evenly split between those who favor leaving it the way it is because of its originality and those who favor leaving it the way it is because they like the other bikes better.

The budget for any project I choose is fairly open ended. I could probably swing the major overhaul needed with the Raleigh, but it would involve drawing deep from the well of goodwill with SWMBO. For reference, here's a shot of the Raleigh chrome problem:



My fear is that I might find myself peeling an onion in any attempt to repair that. On a bike with patina, the above blemishes are hardly noticeable, but I think it completely eliminates the possibility of repainting without re-chroming.

Factoring in peace on the home front, I'm leaning toward powder coating the Bianchi, which is actually where I started. The sentiment among my betters here seems to be that the Bianchi deserves paint, but I've been very happy with past powder coating results.

[QUOTE=Andy_K;21907160]
1990 (ish) Serotta Colorado LT
I have reason to believe this ridiculous paint scheme is original. It's either very cool or hideous, depending on your point of view. I lean toward very cool most days.
To borrow a Yehuda Moon joke, the only climb I'm likely to win is Col d'Stone Creamery, so it's kind of embarrassing for me to ride this in public, but I'm OK with that.



That Serotta is cool.
Just for fun (and maybe to counter your embarrassment), paint them red dots to look like sprinkled donuts.
Paint a white circle in the middle of the dots then paint little brush strokes to resemble multi colored sprinkles in the 'red frosting' area.

Ha!

Part of the problem is that I don't have a skilled hand when it comes to filling deep chips. I've been trying to learn this skill, but so far I haven't been able to pick it up. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that though it's hard to see in these pictures, the white paint on the Serotta is actually a pearl white with metallic flake. I haven't found anything to match it. My attempts so far have looked like putting Wite-Out on off-white paper.

As always, Matt has a perspective worth considering ^^^.

Every time I think about painting a bike, I think of the statement that it is only original once (at least the frame).

I voted for Raleigh with chrome and wet paint because it would need it more than the others. If you are going to paint, do it to the one that is of most value to you and enjoy the great look it will have. Keep in mind you will need to start replacing those parts with Patina with NOS!

It is curious to me that we are unwilling to paint a 30-40 year old bike but if it is from the 90's or new, it is a candidate!

This is almost embarrassing to ride, except for the ghost from the decals. BUT, does it ride nice!
P1030663 on Flickr

Funny you should mention this. That's actually what started me down this line of thinking. The Bianchi is built with 9-speed Daytona components. The branding on the shift levers and derailleurs are faded and rubbed off in places. That was OK because it matched the state of the paint. But earlier this week I bought a set of Daytona components in pristine condition. As I was thinking about what to do with them (yes, I bought them without a plan for how I'd use them) I thought they'd be nice on the Bianchi but then I'd need to get it repainted. They'd also work on the Serotta. The components currently on the Raleigh look pretty nice, but most of them are much newer than the frame. Pretty much only the shift levers and the headset are original at this point.

Yeah. I guess when there are tens of thousands of a certain bike you don't mind messing one of them up, but when there are only a few hundred you get more hesitant. Nevermind that if we all agreed to keep them original when they were young there would still be thousands of them later. Probably nostalgia plays a big role too.

[MENTION=124730]SJX426[/MENTION] 's point of replacing patina'd components with NOS components is an astute, if critical, observation. I've had that thinking of when contemplating redoing X frame or Y frame, or buying Z frame and re-coating it. It's a shoe-in to hang my favorite Dura-Ace ornaments onto it, and while they present very nicely still, they are not as less-used as they once were. They pair with my 620 very well, but a gorgeous stock or repainted Paramount (in my size, in Garnet Red) will out-perfect everything else. But maybe I wouldn't care if the bike in question was one I really wanted to have. Thankfully, you've headed things off at the proverbial pass with that Daytona groupset.

I voted to paint the Bianchi.
- Paint > powder
- I like the KOM paint on the Serotta
- I think the Raleigh wears the patina well

But a N+1 is never a bad option...

I voted to paint the Bianchi as I think the Serotta looks cool and the Raleigh has agreeable wabi.

I wouldn't touch that Serotta. It's too dang cool the way it is. I think it's the only bike in your collection I've ridden more than a mile, and I somehow feel nostalgic for it.

Do the Bianchi; it's a candidate for true celeste if there ever was one.

By this point Andy you probably know what your decision will be, so here’s a cat with a sprinkle donut.

Yeah, I suppose I do have a pretty good idea now.



I'm thinking Pearled Turquoise. I like the greener shades of Celeste.

This thread has actually been very helpful. Thanks to all who contributed with votes and comments. I ended where I started, but with more confidence in the decision and the reasoning behind it.

[QUOTE=northbend;21908354]If you did that, you'd be the hit of the hop at this event (if it is ever held again, of course).

I wouldn't do a total repaint/powder coat on any of them. Find some touchup paint that is a good match and have at it. The Bianchi would probably be the toughest to match but an auto supply store that does paint mixing should come close. I have had NAPA Auto do color matching for me with good results. I just brought the frame/bike into the store and they matched the paint. If money is burning a hole in your pocket buy another bike.

When you get a color match like that done, do they also match the metallic flakes? Both the Serotta and the Bianchi have metallic flake paint and both have proven impervious to all attempts to find even approximate nail polish matches.

The Raleigh, on the other hand, perfectly matches Rust-Oleum gloss black. I mean, like I can't even see the edges of very close inspection. I'm still trying to figure out how to touch up chrome

That will buff right out. No worries. Just a very light surface rust, Hargh....., hargh, ha ha garghhh..............ack, ack, ack, ack, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............................................

The place I went to had a lot of paint options so I could get good matches. Best just to bring it in and see what they can do for you.

I like the Pearlized Turquoise as well. Great color and really, it has pearl in it (metallic would have been fine as well) which makes the color more dynamic in the light and thus, more interesting overall. It'll be really fun in the afternoon sun.

They say the Pearled Turquoise is metallic, but I can't see the flakes like with some metallics. Maybe when the sun comes out (June?) I'll take the swatch outside and see how it looks. Right now I kind of feel like it's not quite as bright as I'd like. The Prismatic Powders website shows example projects with a lot of variation for these colors. I want to avoid getting a color that I don't love. I'm pretty sure either the Pearled Turquoise or the Sea Foam Green would pass as Celeste, but I don't want to end up regretting not getting the "right" Celeste.

Also, there are an awful lot of Celeste accessories available -- bottle cages, bottles, bar tape, saddles, pedals, cables, etc. How does anyone ever match these to each other or their frame? I'm guessing that the modern owners of the Bianchi brand have standardized the Celeste color to cash in on the accessory market. Maybe I should try to match that.

+1

Some metallics are incredibly fine as far as flake size goes. I've had a few on some of my bikes--I have to get really close, but it's there. I appreciate Prismatic's articulating swatch videos as well as customer submissions (even if they don't usually say there was a clear coat applied as well...). I'll even look up that PC color on an image search to see if I can get more examples. It's pretty incredible how colors can change from indoor lighting or a staged photograph to direct sunlight outdoors.

Matching official Bianchi celeste sounds like a good idea. Have a real live example of the color to compare the swatches to. I do agree the Pearlized Turquois could be a bit peppier (brighter). The struggle is real.

Based on discussions with knowledgable people, my understanding is that Bianchi used some 18 different variations of Celeste.
Matching frame color and accessories could therefore be...difficult.

The Serotta should be preserved to serve as a warning to future generations...

Now that definitely has the makings of a new thread! I'm sure there are a lot more like this.