Is this Dawes frame worth armourtec-ing? Or shall i just leave it?

come on, I want your honest opinions here.

It's a Dawes Star Celeste, probably the other side of 30 years old. Contrary to appearances, no serious rust damage. I was thinking of spraying it (in fact i was just about to pop over to armourtec) and getting it all pimped up as a fixed, but have since had several people telling me i should leave it like it is... not sure about the exact reasons. I'm now completely torn. What should I do??

the bike:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_pq7h377aGdg/R2Zn9HlbVhI/AAAAAAAAANk/mpfQ-OV3N1I/s1600-h/dawes.jpg

the details:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_pq7h377aGdg/R2cck3lbVlI/AAAAAAAAAOE/B-0cHo0yf1k/s1600-h/bottom
http://bp3.blogger.com/_pq7h377aGdg/R2cck3lbVmI/AAAAAAAAAOM/aNBebaTX2sI/s1600-h/back.jpg
http://bp0.blogger.com/_pq7h377aGdg/R2cclHlbVnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/WxMhIlo_e0Q/s1600-h/front.jpg
http://bp0.blogger.com/_pq7h377aGdg/R2cclHlbVoI/AAAAAAAAAOc/FwmbuxOyY4Q/s1600-h/seat.jpg

thanks!

You posted this recently didn't you?

Something else to consider: right now it is winter, very cold/rainy/icy and thus lots of grit on the road. Any respray will get pretty fucked up over the course of the winter months. I'd leave it, use the 40 quid to buy better parts, then re-spray it in the spring once the weather gets marginally less dismal.

There's no reason not to re-spray it if you're not in to the old patina thing. A few people on this forum seem to like it is all. And i'm speaking from a broke point of view.

sorry asm, I'm probably boring you with the re posting of basically the same thing.

YEah.. good point, It's just i just payed someone to take it all apart for me to get it ready to re-spray... Unless, buy the summer I'll be a pro and have the tools to be able to take it apart for myself?!

i have nothing better to do with my life than intermittently post on this forum, before going back to practicing no-handed trackstands in my hallway. :)

spray paint it.

asm Any respray will get pretty fucked up over the course of the winter months.

Powdercoat will laugh off the winter slush, it will not chip like a wet spray or stove enamel, it will not yellow or fade.

If you leave it like it is you will eventually have some degree of rust damage (as asm ponits out the rain/ice/grit of winter will have this frame for dinner in it's exposed state)

Do not listen to other people (especially me) telling you what you should do with your frame - what is this bike for, a museum or to ride ?

Get yourself to Armourtex (for that is the way it is spelt) and get yourself a £40 gloss white powdercoat, you should have it back by Thursday and can start building it up.

Pocket the cash, ride it into the ground and then replace it. By then you'll have your eye on something else anyway, and its kind of appealing in its current state.

I can't see the rust becoming a structural problem myself. But I'm no expert.