FINDING THE SEKINE SHS 270

I stumbled across the red SHT one day while out Yard Sailing.  The Yard Sale host had no bicycles of any kind on display, and that is just fine with me.  These days, a "Ten Speed" offered for sale is snapped up almost immediately.  At any rate, I figured out who was hosting the Yard Sale and asked him if he might have an old "Ten Speed" for sale.  He was quick to invite me into his attached garage.  The garage was well lit inside.  I had no difficulty determining what the kind of old road bicycle was hanging from the hooks in the ceiling.  The Sekine looked to be in very good condition and it was obviously one of the better bicycles to come out of Three Rivers.  The SHX and SHT being the only two better models offered for that mid seventies vintage.

The Yard Sale host took the bicycle down and placed it gently on the floor.  What a nice bicycle and it looked to be a perfect fit for me, as nearly as I could tell.  I looked the bicycle over carefully and asked how much he would sell the bicycle for.  He said that he would have to check with his wife, since it was her bicycle.

A few moments after disappearing into the house, he and an attractive middle aged woman appeared.  Apparently the lady's grandmother had purchased the Sekine for her as a graduation present back in the mid-seventies.  For sentimental reasons alone the bicycle, though little used then and even less used now, was not for sale.  However...

The lady did indicate an interest in having her bicycle refurbished, even though it looked like it needed nothing.  The Yard Sale host and I discussed a full rebuild.  I informed him of how much I charge for such a service and the deal was struck.  I said that I would pick the bicycle up later in the day, after I had finished riding the Yard Sale Loop on my bicycle of choice for that day, a Cambio Rino 2000 that I had found at the local landfill site, better known as the "Dump".

My first estimate of what the Sekine needed was right on the money.  It needed nothing other than a bit of fresh lubricant on the drive chain and air in the tires.  For all intents and purposes, the bicycle was working perfectly.  I called the people back and informed them of the bicycle's state of repair, recommending that they save their money. I did, however, suggest that a new set of tires would be in order, since the originals were badly cracked.  It was decided that I would go ahead and rebuild the bicycle anyway.  Both the Yard Sale host and his wife wanted the bicycle to be fully serviced.  I guess they thought that the bicycle would appreciate the attention before being placed back on its hooks for another twenty years.

NEXT - BUILDING THE SEKINE SHS 270