A Youngtimers' makeover

Bought this steel roadframe (90's era) mostly as a "tryout" for another project (https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/259950/#comment12046133) but also because of the nice chromework (seatstays, chainstay, front fork).

Maybe some will find the colourscheme rather sober, I find it a bit to "lively" so next week it will be sandblasted and repainted in plain white.

Afterwards it will be build-up with a Campa Veloce groupset and other contemporary parts.

Why in gods name would you repaint that???!!!?? It's only original paint once and it looks fantastic.
In no way could stripping and painting it plain white improve it whatsoever.

Good luck with the build and enjoy, but for the love of all that is good and true leave the paint...

It looks a bit -euh- "cheap" to me (I know, that may sound crazy). I like the frame and Martens (name of the framebuilder) is one of the last Belgian framebuilders, but that name!

Meh, to me it looks anything but cheap. That said, it's your frame, you bought it so do with it as you will. Will you at least keep the chrome ends and redo the decals after you've ruined the paint?
I'll shut up now.

Ofcourse the chrome will be kept intact! That's what I like most about the frame.

I now what you say is right but here (in Flanders) this brand is a bit "provincial". You only bought these kind of frames if you weren't able to afford a raceframe from Eddy Merckx (remember he was a Belgian framebuilder too ;-)). It's just how we Belgian people are...

I will ask the painter to put the name of the builder on it ("Eddy Martens" no kidding), at least that's better than Martelly. ;-)

Thanks for your input! Really.

Wim

Hehe apologies if I came across a bit blunt, far too many hipsters on here ruined gorgeous frame with horrible powdercoat and hacking off braze-ons for no reason at all.
At least you've got a story and reasons behind your decision!

No problem. As I said on this forum before: it's only bikes we're discussing here. ;-)

I wouldn't paint that either; the chrome, red and black scream nineties! It's beautiful. Reminds me a bit of this Chesini: http://goo.gl/8zZRjn

Still, up to you!

I raced in the amateur-category (later called “elite without contract”) back in the nineties so I believe I got overdosed by this kind of colour-schemes because the bikes I rode most kilometers with, were all like this. It might take me a life or two before appreciating them again. I like steel frames and chrome but that’s about it (concerning the nineties). Same goes for clothing like this

And what’s most: the former owner removed some of the paint (near the lugs) to check the state of the seams…

I think we've established clothing nirvana. I was only just starting to ride bikes in the nineties (I was born in '82) so for me, that era brings with it all kinds of nostalgia. I ride a nineties Scapin with a bright (bright) yellow and red colourway, so I suppose I'm firmly fixed in the past.

If you are painting it white and retaining the chrome, any thoughts on the typography for the decals?

Oh and that chap in the flouro looks like the West Ham defender James Tomkins -
http://goo.gl/E6KseL

I have the same nostalgic feelings I suppose, but I never really liked the screaming colours. Not then and not now. ;-)

At the moment I have 2 more bikes from thta era (a 1991 Colnago and a 1994 Carrera) and no way I'll touch the frames of those.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ukox17pgxsnxi0y/Carrera.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3bq6ar4ry1ccx06/IMG_5897.JPG?dl=0

Thought not to put any decals on it...

Those bikes are lovely, much more restrained than mine.

I guess it seems a shame to remove all sense of provenance and ancestry, to my mind. A plain white frame is a plain white frame; I had thought you may replace the 'Martelly' with 'Eddy Martens' at least, just to give the frame a sense of identity. Each to their own though!

you're right, every child deserves a name. ;-)

3 months later...

This is the result:

So, makeover complete:

a few silver parts away from a smart build. great forks btw

Silver stem?

yeaaa, reckon that would look good.

Think I've got a Cinelli somewhere here. I'll try it.

wait you wanted to get rid of the martelly right? its still there!;)

It's for sale actually. At this moment only on a Belgian site but if you want it, just shout. ;-)

i meant the writing. not interested myself. too big, not my cuppa. glws anyway

Silly me, didn't get it first. ;-)

When I finally took it to the sprayer, I decided very last minute to leave it a "Martelly" and so a Martelly it is.