jonwvara 

I have a NOS Stronglight chainring in a size I need, but it's not the "correct" style for my Model 93 crankset. The BCD is the same, though, so I could easily just bolt it on and ride it. The slight stylistic mismatch wouldn't matter much to me once it was in place.

What does matter to me is the prospect of throwing away the chainring's NOSness so frivolously. I would much rather start with a used ring that's in the same approximate condition as the rest of the bike.

This is not a new problem for me. Whenever I get my hands on NOS parts (I don't seek them out, but sometimes it happens anyway), I tend to put off using them I'm out of other options. I may be approaching that point now with the Stronglight ring.

Should I see a therapist about this?

52telecaster

Yes. That's my view anyway...

noobinsf 

At some point, I guess you realize it will likely never end up in a museum or finance a vacation, so it's probably living its best life being used on your bike. Besides, with these things, there is still a luster around items you can verify as having "low mileage," so all is not lost. I do understand, though. Probably my most valuable NOS item is a Suntour Ultra 6s freewheel, and I'm grateful that I have a rider-quality identical one that relieves the dilemma for the foreseeable future.

BFisher

I'm not a therapist, but can play one on the internet.

What you have is known in the League of Internet Amateur Rehabilitation Specialists as FNOS, or Fear of New Old Stock, scientifically known as Neopalaioapothemaphobia.

Exposure is the best path toward a cure, and the more the better. So, what you should do, in my unprofessional opinion, is designate all NOS parts toward one single NOS build.

That would ease your pain considerably, and perhaps more importantly, would also temporarily satisfy the n+1 rule.

steelbikeguy

It is something to ponder.. should I wear out a nice piece of gear? ... but if I don't do it, will it be so obsolete that somebody just chucks it into the metal recycling bin??
I've got 3 NOS SunTour New Winner freewheels that I hope to eventually get around to wearing out, after I've worn out my non-pristine ones.

There are still NOS ones out there, if the swap meet tables at the 2018 Classic Rendezvous event are any indication...



although some of them were corn cobs (13-19 teeth, very close range)

Steve in Peoria

smd4

I feel your pain. That’s why I need two of everything.

rccardr 

I build with/use NOS parts whenever possible. Why?
1) There’s a certain frisson of excitement using something that’s never been used before
b) The parts speak to me in dreams and tell me they are much happier being used than sitting in boxes.

Just two data points!

nlerner

Grind down the teeth and pair it with a 42t ring as a chainguard.

repechage

I think twice, then install, and use.
I have some NOS components, hubs, chains, rims, they are to be used.

SurferRosa

Nothing better than nos rings on our old bikes, perfectly straight so we don't have to always be finely trimming the fd, especially in a big gear.

Smear some chain grease on it and fuggedaboutit already, youse!

panzerwagon 

That photo had me drooling until I noticed the ratios...

poprad

Any time I get too wrapped around the axle on NOS parts, be it bikes, cars, or anything else, I just imagine the heap of stuff left after my demise and the process of a thrift store employee sifting through them. I mean, yeah, some stuff I'll leave instructions for the disposal of, but largely our bike parts will just be recycled into this very community via E Bay. When I picture that heap of bikes and parts it hits me what a ridiculous concern it is and slap that part on and get some miles on it.

tkamd73 

I tend to seek out, and many times overpay, for NOS parts. But then I usually install them as fast as I can. I want to be the first to use, and appreciate the look, and function, of a new old stock part. Recently I replaced the chewed up outer chainring on my Trek 670, with one I found on eBay. A pristine nos 49t chainring still in the Campagnolo paper sleeve.
Installed it the same day, and went for a ride, satisfied with the new chainring, chucked the old one into the recycling bin, along with the paper sleeve.
This is CV, why not ride the best version of your old bike now, we are not getting any younger, and this stuff won’t necessarily be appreciated by those that follow.
Tim

blamester

What if you had bought it new from the shop?
I use them.
​​​​​​

verktyg 

Jon, what size and style of 122mm BCD chainring are you looking for? I have a bunch of them.

When I got back into collecting (hoarding) bikes in 2006, when I found a mint bike that I really liked, I stored it away and picked up a rider quality of the exact same bike... Since most were upper mid range they would probably not have a lot of resale value to a collector. I've gotten rid of about 4- 5 of my duplicates and in most cases kept the riders. If a bike is too pretty it doesn't get ridden much!

I still have a lot of NOS components....

verktyg

jonwvara 

A 46 or 47--47 being my first choice--in the Model 93 pattern. The NOS ring is a 46-tooth for a 105 bis.

Rocket-Sauce 

Yes! These things are only valued by a *very* small population of old farts, retro grouches, and maybe some hipsters. And we are all notoriously cheap, keeping this hobby relatively within reach (compare vintage bike parts to vintage cars or motorcycles.. yikes!).

This reminds me of my latest new (gasp! modern) bike. I spent way too much money on something that immediately lost most of its value, and will impress almost no one at all.

Except me.

And for whatever it is worth, running the "wrong" chainring is definitely cool in my mind.

Also, post a picture!

thumpism 

You think NOS is a headache? Try having a bunch of OOS.

wrk101

None of my bikes is NOS. So when I obtain an NOS part, I immediately turn it into CASH to fund my bike hobby. Invariably, there are people out there that will gladly pay 2X, 3X, sometimes 10X for a NOS part. Meanwhile, I am happy to continue to obtain lightly used parts for my own builds.

Now on some consumables: tires, cables, housings, chains, I stick to new. But I have used a variety of lightly used chainrings and freewheels.


I have become a HUGE fan of patina, to the point I would prefer somewhat rusty/crusty frame over pristine.

Pompiere

The shiny, unblemished NOS piece seems to sick out like a sore thumb, even if it is replacing an identical old part. I would only seek out NOS for a bike I am completely rebuilding with new paint and decals or one that looks new already.

52telecaster

I like to ride my bikes and they never look new and rarely have historically correct parts on them. They are made to be ridden and I enjoy. You can too

squirtdad

if i have choice between NOS and used, and the price is not stupid on the NOS i will use NOS.

at the same time I am building a set of duplicates of ultegtra8000 mechanical group, my own NOS for future use

steelbikeguy

yep, that's the best answer to NOS, or just to the question of having the parts to keeping your bikes running!

Of course, this does require that you either anticipate your needs, or have reached a point where you don't expect your needs to change significantly.
About 20 years ago, I started putting aside a lot of consumables (chains, freewheels, cassettes, etc) in anticipation of them being hard to find. I'm a bit surprised that I'm running out of 8 and 9 speed cassettes before running out of 7 speed cassettes and 6 speed freewheels, but in general, I think I did okay. Still have 3 NOS SunTour freewheels.

There is always the chance that you'll get stuck with some weird part that no one uses anymore, but that's just part of the gamble.

Steve in Peoria

tkamd73 

And thus the reason for replacing the ratty chainring on my 670, the rest of the bike had been recently redone.
Tim

79pmooney

13-19 a corn cob? Nah. I rode all my training and races in New England on that touring cluster except Smuggler's Notch and up the big one. (Except the flat races where I did use a corn cob.) Post racing, I knew I needed/wanted lower gears but so loved that 53-42 X 13-19 I simply went triple and added a 28t ring. Didn't go to a 21 until cog numbers went up.

To the topic; I just picked up some lightly to medium used GP4 rims and 2 gorgeous NOS ones. All will get built up and used a lot as soon as I can find the spokes. (Light 302s like DT Revs seem to be impossible to find.)