I am doing Ragbrai this year and was looking for a steel bike as I did not want to bounce my carbon frame on the back of a bike rack for 4000 miles. I came across a Nishiki Tri A in pretty good condition my guess is it has less than a thousand miles of ride time. I purchased it for 235 with new tires and tubes. runs great and fits. Need to go through it before I break it in. the wheels need a bit truing however it is rideable as is. I think this is original as it came off the LBS floor save the tires

bike ad here
http://for-sale.yakaz.com/nishiki-tri-a
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/bik/2944736258.html

When I look at the serial number rules this does not fit the matrix I have seen on this forum. There are no letters whatsoever.

its is stamped 944 8693 the 944 is on the left side of bottom bracket with a large space between and the 8693 right side with the bike upside down. Any thoughts of why no letters as seems the norm from what I have read on this thread

Build as is now in my garage are the following

Tange 2 tubing lugged frame

Internal cable runs

cool gussets for water bottle ( the cage is a black Uniavega)

Full Shimano 600 group

600 headset

600 Suicide six friction

600 front and rear derailer

600 brakes and levers

600 bottom bracket and cranks

600 pedals with traps

Biopace sprocket

Araya gold anodized rims

SE hubs

SR stem

Sakae world champion bars

turbo saddle

leather bar tape with italian flag colored tape