Ed.

Oh my.... Wonderful story.

Maver71

My jaw about dropped when I saw the pics.

Great story and real nice of the lady to give you that

Rocket-Sauce 

What a great story. Helps restore faith in humanity: both what you did to help with no expectation of reward, and the generosity of the woman you helped!

Until you get suitable hoods, you can get by with bar tape wrapped around the brake levers.

Now clean it up and TAKE PICTURES!

photogravity

Very nice Henry! Often we think of the big things and forget the little things often matter more. Great lesson for us all.

RobbieTunes

As kharma has struck you twice, it's because you earned it. Kind of kharma-esque in the big picture, eh?
Glad the bike ended up where it seems to belong, as well.

Now, for my kharma, I'm going to blow off the guy who dropped off his bike-shaped Fuji branded rust-bucket for me to "clean up a bit." I spent 2 hours on line finding him a bike, 4-5 more hours answering 77 questions, and have been storing said bike-shaped Fuji branded rust bucket for 2 months now, while he rides his 853 Ultegra 9sp Lemond Tourmalet that I had to talk him into buying for $380. Now he want's me to "go through it, get me fit on it, and give me tips." Can't. It's time to leave the nest, grasshopper, and enter the Trial and Error world of the rest of us. Assume some risk, make a few mistakes, and leave me to my own devices. I'm more of a kharma katastrophe.

1987

Thanks for sharing.
Double drilled cranks I've never seen that before.
I sometimes get the feeling that people are more grateful in US, than many other places. Or am I getting a false impression from C&V?

kflagg 

Very cool story hope you enjoy it.May be worth trying a clay bar treatment on the paint you might be pleasntly supprised.

Henry III

The double drilled crank was a little odd and a first for me and doesn't look like a hack job either. Going to break the whole thing down tonight since the family is on the coast and work in the kitchen and give it a candle light OA bath in our tub. Haha. Maybe play some three tenors for it also. I'm hoping for a Ti spindle when I open the BB as one pedal is Ti also. I'm assuming the original broke and he replaced it with a steel model?

rootboy 

Way to go Henry. Nice guys finish first.

The Golden Boy 

Fantastic bike!

It's so much more of the best when you're doing something you want to do- just for the appreciation . And when someone shows a tangible form of that appreciation, it's icing on the cake.
People are people the whole world over. Knowing nothing about the situation; I'd guess the lady was just giving away an old bike as a token of thanks- she knew it was "something" but probably not exactly what it was. It wasn't a treasure to her- but it did mean something and knew that it had meant something to her husband, and that HenryIII would appreciate it.

1987

It's not that easy. This story will hardly ever unfold in modern day Sweden.

Henry III

She remembered what they paid for it back in the early 80's and knew it was worth something but she didn't care about it. She just said for all the times I stayed after working with her at the shop being she would always come minutes before we closed and stay another 20-30 minutes after. I always enjoyed working with her when she would come in the other guys at the bike shop would say "she's all yours" because they didn't want to stay after. It's one of the biggest things I miss not working at the shop full time anymore. Just meeting new people in the valley whom I would of never of knew not working there. She even invited me for supper the day I was over there but I had to take a rain check. lol.

Plus she got enjoyment after seeing my reaction and I would of given her a big bear hug but didn't want to break her. Haha.

bconneraz

Great story, and beautiful bike. I can't wait to see more pictures. Congrats!

obrentharris 

You're a good man Henry!
Brent

The Golden Boy 

So if you do nice stuff for Swedes, they never do anything nice for you?

Henry III

Upon disassembly for it's OA bath. I found this when I pulled out the bottom bracket. I couldn't read the cups since they were covered in grime. An Omas Titanium bottom bracket!!! This just keeps getting better! When it rains it pours I guess!

Velocivixen

@Henry III - listening to three tenors? Nice. I'm at my most artistic when I'm listening to opera. Usually, though, when working on bikes I'm busy talking to myself so I'm afraid the music would be wasted on me.

AngryFrankie

Man, that is a fantastic bike! The G in the serial number possibly is for "Giovanni" Losa. He built many of those frames. He became the contractor after yours was made, but I've seen an interview where someone who worked at Cinelli said he previous was one of the builders, before he became the actual contractor. Is the Columbus tubing sticker still on that frame?

kylarr

What a great bike and story! It sounds like you deserve it which makes it even sweeter.

As to the serial number, the first two digits are the year as you surmised and the last three show that it was the 254th built that year. If it is a 54cm it is a coincidence. I don't know what the G stands for, I have never seen or heard of a letter on a bottom bracket from that era.

About a year ago I built an '82 up with the modern Campy ten speed bits from my Merlin and have never looked back. They are great riding frames, I hope you enjoy.

Henry III

It has about half of the Columbus decal still intact. It say Columbus acciaio speciale tubing.