Yeah, that's a good idea. I think I'll give it a spray of paint and see how it goes. Plan B would be the primer.

Thinking about it, my favoured plan now would be to patch it and wait 12 months or so and then get the wheels rebuilt with stainless spokes, and get the hubs blasted and powder coated at that time.

Have to say, it's a bit of a negative on the bike and my first disappointment.