I change handlebars for reasons of fit, comfort, looks. I changed wheels because I was concerned about ruining a nice vintage set of 28 hole tubular track wheels, I swapped seatposts between bikes to better match their respective ages, and I swapped all Selle Italia saddles for Brooks because whoever designed the Selle Italias needs his bum tested.
I would like to change the cranks on it to vintage Campagnolo because the Miche Primatos on it look too modern. I will be changing the bars to some wider ones and changing the bar tape to some nice plain black leather.
Buying off-the-peg is usually a compromise. With bicycles it can be a more expensive compromise. Buying bespoke, or customising a bike can be dangerously addictive.
Custom made for someone else decades ago.
It's made by my favourite framebuilder, it looks stunning, it was in great condition.
Aesthetics are fairly important. I don't like having parts on a bike that look wrong. I have a particular dislike of black handlebar stems and seatposts. I also prefer tight clearances and fixed/hub gears to dérailleurs on aesthetic as well as functional level.
I change handlebars for reasons of fit, comfort, looks. I changed wheels because I was concerned about ruining a nice vintage set of 28 hole tubular track wheels, I swapped seatposts between bikes to better match their respective ages, and I swapped all Selle Italia saddles for Brooks because whoever designed the Selle Italias needs his bum tested.
I would like to change the cranks on it to vintage Campagnolo because the Miche Primatos on it look too modern. I will be changing the bars to some wider ones and changing the bar tape to some nice plain black leather.
Buying off-the-peg is usually a compromise. With bicycles it can be a more expensive compromise. Buying bespoke, or customising a bike can be dangerously addictive.