That's the trouble, I know how much I have loved it in the past and letting go of that is hard. However, simply covering it up with a sheet seems cruel in a way. I'll dwell on it over the coming winter, but I suspect passing it on to someone who will truly love it may be the end result, alas.

[MENTION=326148]tjkwood[/MENTION]- so this is an opportunity for growth? You learned something about yourself.

Indeed - something interesting has emerged from something bad. I'll certainly make it known on here if/when I do decide to move it on, as it has to go to someone who cares I guess

In your post #18 above you mention "love of looks and heritage" and for your realization that it's not practical. I wanted to say, without sounding way off topic, that sounds like a lot of reasons why many relationships fail. I mean like when you get into a relationship with another because you think they're beautiful or handsome, yet their character is flawed, but you let your better judgement get the best of you. These "relationships" end up being your "around town" bike - not your serious, long term bike. I hope you get my meaning. I am not implying that you are like that in your personal life, in fact, it reminds me of myself when I was younger.

Mrs. Ksryder was in a bad wreck a couple years ago and it's been a long recovery process (she's ok) and hasn't touched a bike since. It's discouraging because she LOVED biking before that, and was part of the reason I got back into it after slacking for a few years and was something we enjoyed doing together.

But she's happy doing other things right now and I know better than to push her so that's fine for right now. The only thing I'll do is make sure she doesn't sell her bike and make sure it's in good working order just in case.

There's the old saying, "ya gotta get back of the horse that thew ya" or something to that effect.

I fell out of love with derailleur bikes, when I got a Rohloff IGH.

This is so true, and oddly pertinent! Hopefully I can find what I'm looking for in both senses

There's nothing like a good IGH.... that TSR 8 is looking rather good from where I'm sat! Working for a bike company does make you realise what precisely makes a 'good' bike to you

The collection is now being sold on, including this Sports - shipping could always be arranged...

I fell out of love with the only new bicycle I have ever bought for myself, the 1971 American Eagle Semi-Pro (Nishiki Competition). Yes, I put about 40k miles on it over a 20-year period, including a double century and a few memorable centuries, and yes it did get admiring glances from lots of folks when it was new, but I did not fully realize how "dead" and spongy the double-butted Ishiwata CrMo main triangle really was until I got my 1980 Peugeot PKN-10 and my 1981 Bianchi. If you are looking at mass-produced vintage Japanese bikes, I strongly recommend late 1970s or newer, because of the rapid rate of improvement in frames through the 1970s.

When the frame broke in 1991 I bought French-threaded Sugino bottom bracket cups and transferred most of the components over to a 1973 Peugeot UO-8, which ended up riding slightly better and weighting just about the same as the Nishiki had.

I would definitely consider another vintage Nishiki if I were looking for "N+1" (I am space-limited and saturated right now), but it would have to be a 1980s model.

Lesson Learned: Don't stick your finger in the pointy bits. You'll either learn from your mistake or lose a finger completely. Either way the bike should still ride well.

Yup. And don't rest your fingers on the spinning drive belt in your car engine either. Best advice is to get back in the saddle and enjoy riding.

Did Raleigh make a chainguard for this bike? In 1935, people would have worn trousers when riding this bike. How did they keep their cuffs out of the chainring?
This is where you injured your finger?

As with every relationship the good traits are directly related to the bad traits; if you love one for their passion in a positive sense, they will be just as passionate in a negative sense. I have been married to an example for 20 years and I know that if I figuratively don't pay attention to where my hand is, I may loose a finger.. Love is a choice; lust is a feeling. (keep the bike)