While visiting British Columbia, walking around Oak Bay Village east of Victoria, we popped into a local bike shop. Hanging from a mezzanine where the more expensive road bikes seemed to be kept, there was this classic Bianchi. I apologize for the poor phone photos; location and lighting were not ideal. I thought it might date from the early 60s, based on the components (Magistroni cranks, long reach Universal sidepull brakes), but in a cursory look online, I found that it may, in fact, date to the 50s, even the early 50s.

Strangely, as you can see, the bike has a price tag on it. When I inquired of store staff whether it was really for sale (for much less than the new models), or whether this was just a cruel joke, I got an evasive answer like "everything is for sale for a price" and "yeah, it's sort of a cruel joke". There were a few other vintage bikes in the same loft, against one wall (Colnago, Guerciotti, and a beautiful blue mid-80s bike with elegant windowed lugs whose marque I hadn't ever heard of, and have forgotten); none of these had a price tag.

Anyway, if anyone cares to see it, or attempt to negotiate its liberation, it's at Oak Bay Bicycles on Oak Bay Avenue. While it may be captive, at least it's not languishing in a garage or attic.