I just got home from picking up this Miyata 710 via the local Craigslist.

Kind of a funny thing about this little score. I had spotted the post late last week. The price was around $270. It was a little much for me at the time and the ad was very non-discript. It did say it was 59CM, had Suntour components and Shimano brakes. Another thing that turned me off there was no telling just how original it was, so I didn't pay much attention.

A couple days go by and I do my usual keyword search on CL. "Univega", "Centurion", "Fuji", "Miyata" and there it is again. Only this time $260. Then on Monday, $230. Tonight I checked again. The post was updated yesterday, it says "Miyata 210, for $210". Ok I thought, I know the model now. So I did some research. I see it's quite a step up from the humble Univega Custom Maxima I picked up earlier, and a more appropriate size. So I call and it's still available. Ask the usual questions about rust, dents, his history with the bike, etc. He did say he put a new derailleur on it "..'cause you know...it was gettin' old." I go check it out.

The seller is a nice guy, younger, and if I had to stereotype him, he may smoke a little green in order to feel connected with Mother Earth in order to save the World one co-op farm at a time. I'm not judging mind you, just giving you a visual; beard and all. Anyway, he just hands it over and says "take 'er for a spin!" So I step out side and give it a look over before hoping on. I notice some painted script on the drive-side chainstay. It reads Seven Ten 710. Oh snap! I check the brakes...Dia Compe! HAHAHA! The FrDr is a Suntour Vx and the RrDr is Sountour V-GT LUXE. Frame is Tange Champion Double-Butted. The serial# begins with "I" so I believe that puts it at a 1980 model.

I tried to talk him down to a round $200 'cause the front wheel is out of true, but I gotta hand it to him he held firm for that last $10. More pics to come soon!