Nishiki circa '81
Was jonesing for some FG riding while here in AZ. I've riden everyone's bike and none fit, and none are close to what I'm riding in MN, so I went on a hunt for a bike to fix, and found BICIS, here in Tucson. Have no idea what BICIS stands for, but knew it was the right place when I walked in and right in front of me was a sign up for an up coming Alley Cat Feb 28 (I think, I won't be here for it). I made my way through the piles of frames and wheels, and found two bikes, a Schwinn World Tourer, and this old Nishiki Marina. Bagged the Nishiki, took it home and started the tear down. AZ sun really is hard on finishes, where in MN everything is rusty, and rusted together. I pulled off the deraillures and found this "brown" bike was actually once a maroon. Built it back up as a SS, since I don't have the funds or the wheel sets to go FG with it. Good thing I saved money on a wheel set, my first ride was met with disaster, I flatted my front tire, and flattened the old steel rear wheel. Replaced it and am running okay with a good lesson learned.
So, if you're ever in Tucson, check these guys out, they trade, sell, and will let you work for your bike. There are buckets of parts. And a couple piles of frames. I found some Campy brake levers, not matched, but I didn't want to do a lot of digging. It's a little gem. (I also said I'd post about them)
SS and FG are big here, but I'm told there aren't any messenger services using bikes. Not sure if it is the climate makes it pretty unreasonable to be out on a bike in this sort of heat they get or if the city just isn't big enough to warrant any enterprizing group of riders to take on the service.
I'll post my pics of this classic steel Nishiki when I get home.