FINDING THE SEKINE VERONA

While out and about one day, on a beautiful early eighties Peugeot Course, that was found at the Dump and, aside from a different saddle and pedals, remains virtually "as found".  The Peugeot and I had been cruising the Dawson Road loop, a there and back secondary highway ride that is scenic and moderately challenging, from a change in elevation point of view.  However, and for no reason that I can recall today, a different return path through the city was selected.

When city riding, I do my best to stay off of high traffic streets and avenues.  With that in mind and knowing where I was headed, I turned the Peugeot onto Algonquin Street.  Home was still a couple of miles away and I was taking it easy at this point in the ride.  And lucky for me that I was or I might well have missed seeing the Verona.

Algonquin is a gently sloping street and when travelling down on a bike, pretty good speeds can be achieved and maintained with little effort.  So, even though I was not trying to do so, I was moving along at a pretty good pace none the less.  Less than two blocks into the Algonquin drop a flash of red caught my eye.  A moment later I reacted to that flash, slowed and U-turned as soon as it was safe to do so.  A half block back, I pulled into a crushed rock driveway that was home to a bright red Sekine that was leaning, wheels off, against a chain link fence.  The bike was not exactly pristine, but certainly worth acquiring if the price was right.

A quick glance revealed that the Sekine was a decent bicycle, sporting such quality features as butted chrome moly frame tubes and forged drop-outs, front and back.  Sadly, there was a bit of corrosion on some of the components but nothing to get too excited about.  The paint and art were scuffed up a bit but still presentable.  All in all, worth a question or two.

I leaned the Peugeot against the links of the galvanized fence and, realizing that there were no stairs leading to the front door, made my way to the side door that opened to the driveway.  A thirty something guy answered the door and I quickly apologized for interrupting his day.  I went on to express my interest in the Sekine.  With apparently no thought given to his response and a wave of his hand he said "take it".  I could not believe my good fortune and thanked him for the bike.  I asked if it would be OK to return in about a half hour to pick the bicycle up.  The fellow said it was and that I might as well take the other one in the tin shed that sat in the far corner of the back yard.

Well, I have had these offers before and it usually means that there is a hunk of junk that needs getting rid off.  But in this case I was mistaken.  Sitting in the tin shed sat this nice old Verona.  This second bicycle was in very good condition when compared to the one sitting in the driveway that had first attracted my attention.  I thanked the guy again, clipped in and set off to get the Ranger.  Once again, smiling at my good fortune and thinking about keeping the Verona.  Of course, I think that about every new bicycle acquired that shows potential.  But I cannot keep every one that does.

When I left the crushed rock driveway,  I had purpose and a down hill grade on my side all the way home and I covered the distance in short order.  I grabbed my truck keys, jumped into the Ranger and headed immediately back to the Sekine bicycles.  Now some might think my haste was a product of being excited about a nice, and free, find.  And some might be partially right.  But the real reason for my haste was to get the bicycles in my possession as quickly as possible.  I have missed golden bicycle acquisition opportunities before simply because I did not close quickly enough.  I can recall missing a gorgeous Miyata 1000 touring bike one day by seconds, and I leaned from that lesson.  With-in less than half an hour I managed to ride home and drive back to pick up the bikes, which were now both waiting for me leaned against the fence.

NEXT - BUILD & RIDE THE SEKINE VERONA

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