FINDING THE CCM TOUR  du CANADA

The Tour du Canada is one of a very few bicycles that I have acquired through an on-line transaction.  The bicycle did show its age, sporting an vast assortment of touched-up and untouched up paint chips and scratches.  Strangely, there was an almost complete absence of art work.  And it does not appear that the original art was removed.  Perhaps the intended CCM frame documentation was never included on this particular "special order only" frame set.  Other than these two cosmetic issues, the bicycle was in remarkably good condition.  I needed to replace nothing for the test ride build up.  Anyway, back to finding the TdC.

I met a fellow on-line several years ago.  He was offering some decals for sale on Ebay and one of the decals I needed for my late seventies Cambio Rino 2000.  Money and decals exchanged hands, followed by a few unrelated e-mails and a friendship was established.  Since then Jim and I have shared many emails.  We have helped each other out on more than one occasion.  I must admit, though, that I am in Jim's debt.  He has been incredibly kind and helpful over the years.  In fact, as I write this, he is preparing to ship me an early fifties CCM Westonia.  And that is a pretty good trick for a fellow who is paralyzed from the neck, down.  Again, back to finding the TdC.

One day I opened an e-mail from my friend and was immediately interested in the message content.  Jim had stumbled across a CCM Tour du Canada and, knowing that I was interested in finding one, let me know right away.  I wrote back that I was interested and Jim told me how to contact the owner.

I e-mailed the owner of the TdC.  He e-mailed back and before long we had struck a deal.  I sent an International Postal Money Order off for the full amount, including shipping, and then sat back to wait...

While I was waiting for my bicycle to arrive, Jim and I happened to touch on-line base again.  Probably because I contacted him to thank him for putting me in touch with his friend, the guy I got the TdC from.  I was horrified when Jim wrote back that the seller was not a friend.  In fact, Jim did not even know this person and had seen the CCM listing on "Craig's List", "Buy n Sell", or some other on-line and absolutely unprotected source.

I had sent my money to a complete stranger!  Anticipation turned immediately to anxiety.  The LONG wait began.  However...

It was not long before A call came in from the bus line, informing me that a package was waiting there.  Thank the Velo gods!  At least I was going to get something for my money.  But what would it be like, after traveling all the way from Vancouver Island?  I had already experienced the horrors of an inexperienced person packing up one bicycle, my Miele LTD.  And, for me, that was a bit of a disaster.  And here I was dealing with another inexperienced packer.  And the package packed had to cross water to get to me!

I went to bus station as quickly as I could, anxiety and anticipation at full roar.  Grabbed the package, which I might add,  looked to be in very good condition.  I gently placed the box in the pick-up and zoomed home to inspect my prize.

The CCM Tour du Canada was packed very well.  Nothing was left loose to rattle and bang around inside the bicycle box.  The contents were padded and separated from one another in a very professional manner.  Any reasonable amount of shipping care would ensure that this old bicycle would reach me unscathed.  And that is exactly how it turned out.

I received the CCM Tour du Canada, my most recent on-line acquisition, in a timely manner, very well packed and in the condition that was described to me.  But there were a few tense moments!

NEXT - BUILDING THE CCM TOUR  du CANADA