It is all about the thrill of the hunt for those elusive bits and in restoring something, whether it be a simple component or a whole bike, back to how it should be.
There is nothing better than stripping each component down into its own component parts, whether that be brakes, rear mechs or taking apart and regreasing hubs or pedals then rebuilding so that they can last another 30 years rather than ending up on the scrap heap.
Most of my classic bikes have worked out “cost neutral” as I tend to buy bikes or components in their unrestored state then make a profit when I sell on - typically this means that the bits I have left are effectively FOC and paid for from the profit made on the other parts (or so I like to tell my wife!)
I’m looking forward to getting the Gran Sport completed but once done, I also hope to take it out for a few rides this summer and maybe even use it in a future Eroica event with my Son, assuming lock down ever ends...