OK people, for the record here.

1. - I already knew 1st hand that Darwin is a class act and an honorable guy. The stars pretty much aligned perfectly here for him. It was the bike of his youth, the right size for him, about 10 minutes from my house, in good working order for $20.00, and I was already planning on driving to New Jersey and back today. There was no doubt that the bike was destined for him.

2. - He was gracious enough to immediately grant my request to pilfer the SAKAE RNDNNR (That's how it's really spelled) handlebars for the next bicycle I'm building up. The color and the handlebars were the only two concerns I have ... er make that had... about the next one. (I gave him a set of alloy Road Champions in comparable condition that I'd brought along thinking maybe we'd get a picture for East Hill).

3. - He fed me. Not only lunch, but he shared some treats that East Hill sent him.

So, when the Le Tour IV was safely nestled in the back of his vehicle, and I was trying to figure out a tactful way of reminding him to reimburse me for the bike, I was thinking - it's only $20.00, and I'm sure it will occur to him - so I decided to not say anything then. Why spoil the moment?

About 15 minutes later, when my phone vibrated after I got done checking in with my son, I knew immediately what had happened and was smiling about it the remaining 70 miles on my way back home.

To prime the pumps of interest a bit, the bicycle is neither the strawberry red, not the frosty blue that the Schwinn catalogue says the bike came in, but a really pretty shade of glossy true blue. It won't take much to make this specimen a real looker, as the scratching is really quite minimal, and the gloss is still tremendous. People will stop and look, especially on a nice, sunny day.

Enjoy the bike my friend, and thanks for your generosity.