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Was interested in this discussion of "why?" - I don't like buying/having stuff I'm not going to use (just generally), so a bike has to have a purpose. In this case, I wanted to assemble something like an Italian classic for L'Eroica. I'm sure, as you said, their value has gone through the roof, and it was naive (and also mainstream/unimaginative) to pick a Colnago Super, but that's what I hit on.
I didn't take a good enough photo of it when I built it, thought I might get one in beautiful Tuscan surroundings on the day, but it rained all morning. So you can see it afterwards, encrusted with mud. It had yellow tape, straps, and cables to match the lug cutouts, but that seemed to border on clever-clever-matchy-matchy, so since the tape was ruined and I had to strip it right down to clean everything, I rebuilt with more subdued cables and straps and some totally exuburant Benotto tape that came with my L'Eroica death shoes.
Being now addicted, I'd like to find a purpose for a newer one! Perhaps I really do need a hot neo-retro road bike...
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xrayspex
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I do very much share your view that bikes are made to be ridden but time constraints and lousy weather do not afford me the luxury of riding them whilst still trying to preserve their condition so there still lives a collection of 'Sunday Rides'.
Now if I were allowed to keep real dirt indoors then I would hanker for my own little collection of mud caked bikes which would each tell a story however perhaps not as romantic sounding as your Tuscany ride. I think Ernesto having reached elite status is allowed to keep Paris Roubaix mud in his museum where I sadly am not the boss at home.
I do love the Super cleaned and preened in the second picture but the story the first picture tells floats my boat just that little bit more.
JusCos
That's certainly what makes it very enjoyable. Hours spent stripping, cleaning, rebuilding, tinkering then in my case constantly changing until I get just the look I'm after. Amazing how such a small detail like rim colour, seat post, bar tape etc can completely change the look of a bike. I know they're all personal taste from an owners perspective unless you're trying to replicate a historical piece but some folks have just got it whilst others conjure up some fucking horrors. Most of them live in anti porn but crop up on occasion in porn too.
I think I've read your site from front to back over time, love it!