With a bike shop sticker from Edmonton, the "Designed by Norco", and the slightly different paint scheme than other Nishikis I've seen, I was curious about this pristine $20 thrift store bike I found recently. I noticed the drilled Sugino triple, the Tange 2 double butted frame, the sturdy wheels and rims, and the extra rack mounts... and knew this was a serious tourer from it's day. Pretty light weight as well. Bottle cage mounts were'nt quite as well figured out on this bike (compared to say my Fuji Tourer IV) - two on the down tube, but mounted so high they only accomodate small sized bottles. The Continental model was unknown to me - and I think it may be a canadian branded version only.

For $20 I knew I'd be snagging the bike up for parts, as the frame was too small for me. But my 15 year old nephew was with me, and I said "Hey, Tommy - jump on this thing and see if it fits you". When it did, my next question was "Hey, Tommy - want to go road riding ?" His experience so far has been with BMX and mondo'heavy downhill bikes ("I push em up the hills, uncle Rich"). Well today, on a brilliant summer southern california day, we did his first real ride - 30+ miles from Dana Point to Oceanside. And he rides like a natural to me. Looks like the beginnings of things to come !