Hello everyone.

Didn't realize how bike friendly Minneapolis/St. Paul was going to be until I was fully moved in up here. Worked through college as a bike messenger, but with military service taking up a majority of my last few years I ended up parting ways with cycling for awhile.

A month ago I came across a strange freebie post on C-list for a old beater of a department store Bridgestone being left on a corner roughly around the same time as my lunch so I figured I would take a little drive. If the bike was still there I'd use it to practice fixing up a bike and if not I'd try out a new restaurant outside my normal AO. Bike ended up being there and other than needing new Cassette, Rubber, and Chain the frame was straight, nothing more than some cosmetic oxidation, and wheels were only a little off of true.

Wife loved having the bike around (albeit a little tall for her) for school, and the kids have loved having something to connect the jogging stroller to for people to haul them around. Fast forward to some garage sales 2 weeks ago and I found something a bit more size and condition appropriate for the wife to ride. Individual was selling some older road bikes from departed relatives including a 1984 Bianchi Limited for $25. Great looking bike in very good condition for her to finish up the remainder of the late summer with up in Minnesota. (forgive the Tri-bar someone had put on it at some point in its past, it isn't there any longer).

Have continued spot cleaning components on the older BS Itoh, purchased a new saddle, and received some other freebies for later during the winter when I should have time to break it down for power blasting and re assembly. Additionally added what should be for a while the final frame in the stable for a while, a very gently used Aluminum Specialized Allez from the early 2000's I found at another garage/estate sale for $50 which appears to just need a tuneup.