My Pinarello Veneto (long post): Bikefanclub.com

I guess the bike gods smiled on me ...

Near the end of last summer, I got tired of commuting the 15km to work on my tired, heavy old mountain bike and went looking for a road bike. I found one on craigslist (Toronto) and went to try it out. I fell in love! Really light weight, beautiful blue colour, rolls like ... well, it's sweet.

The only problem was that everyone on the street noticed it --- that's not a good thing if you're planning to lock your bike in Toronto. So I noticed them noticing, and bought better locks and then finally stopped riding to work.

I had this gorgeous, Ferrari of bicycles hanging on the wall in my house, never being ridden. Sad really ...

So this week I decided to sell it. The first person came last night and they wanted to take off parts and paint over it and make it into a commuter bike! I couldn't sell --- I sent them away. And I went searching about Pinarello bikes online. Which is how I found you all.

Turns out I have a vintage Veneto. Looks like all original parts 'cause they're stamped with Pinarello. All the gearing, wheel hubs & crank are Shimano 105 and it looks about the same vintage as the bike -- '88 or '89. The rims are HP23s -- also made in Italy. It is a beauty -- but I knew that.

I just wanted to share this with you all. I may still have to sell it, but now it will only go to someone who'll respect the tradition it carries. In the meantime, I think I'll go for a ride ... just because it's morning. This bike may make a rider out of me yet!

If I can figure out how, I'll post some pictures ... feel free to let me know if I'm off my nut and being silly about an old bike ...

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