Message 500 of 812

A break in the clouds

September 9, 2007

I rode my Nishiki, Riviera back to the bona Dea trails today. It was a grand time. With all the rain we’ve had the trails were very wet. There was one low water crossing that got up to my pedals. It was about 30 feet to the other side, I got through that rode for a spell. It was really neat with all the pine needles and being wet and all, it was kind of slick. Fun taking the turns at speed. I came to a tee in the roughly paved trail. To the right I could see before I had to make the turn, it was flooded. So I went the other way, moving along. In the middle of making a turn all of a sudden the trail turned into a swamp. I had to go into a skid to stop. Everything is very scenic. All the vegetation loves the rain we’ve been getting of late, after not a drop of rain in August.
There is a pump house along the trail where all the creeks in Russellville end up. The Water is pumped back up to Lake Dardanelle. The three pumps where at full rpm’s. The trail is a big loop with several shorter section but all end up back at the trail head. I went down one of those trails that cut to the other side of the loop. I hit water about ½ mile down it. I saw way to jump across a narrow fast flow of water to a small dike that holds a pond. I though that may be the way to the other side. So I went back to the trailhead and headed the other way. I thought maybe I could get to that high ground. I went nearly a mile and ran into a lake. I could see where the trail came out of the water on the other side. It was at least 100 yards. It was scary, thinking about riding through that. While I was stopped there, it was such a beautiful sight. I wish I had my camera. So I found there wasn’t a way to get any further. All this time I met many people and had fun with the kids and the adults
Till next time…
Phil
By the way does anyone know about Nishiki? The bike is probably about 10 years old, I know nota

photo of cosmicdude
Replies 1 - 10 of 12
Hi Cosmic,
You can run it through Google for general information. I thought the Nishiki.com page was very interesting. It gives you a choice of Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Finnish languages, period. No other choices.

photo of Dick107

about 1 year ago
Nishiki was a Japanise bicycle that did quite well in the US in th 70s and 80s. But it made the mistake of selling some of its low end bicycles to department stores.

The independent bicycle dearlers didn't like this and Nishiki had a hard time signing up dealers.

It later got bought by Derby who also owned Raleigh ad Univega. Te devote more time to the Raleigh bicycle, Derby retired th Nishiki and Univega bicycle in 2001.

Cacci
photo of Cacci

about 1 year ago
Thanks for the info.
photo of cosmicdude

about 1 year ago
I used to own a Nishiki I bought about 1979. I gave it to my son about 1999 so he would have transportation to find work. The bike was stolen. I had bought myself a Univega in 1991 so I wasn't using the Nishiki. It was a neat bike. The Nishiki had the gear shift levers at the ends of the handlebars so you could keep your hands in the drops while shifting if desired. I still ride my Univega which now has many thousand miles on it, about 800 miles last month alone. I will probably top that this month. The old bikes are great if you maintain them. Hope you get another 18 years out of your Nishiki.

photo of oldkid

about 1 year ago
You're so right, oldkid. When you buy a good bike, you can expect to get years of good use as long as you maintain them.

The nice thing about bikes is that just about all the components come from 3-4 companies! You can go to any IBC and find what you need to get the bike back on the road. You may have to wait for the parts to be shipped, but they're out there. And a good frame should last forever.

Cacci
photo of Cacci

about 1 year ago
I own a Nishiki bought in 1979 after my previous bike was stolen. I took many long rides through the hills of central KY on it with my husband. I don't have a model available as I am away from home.

I last rode it the end of January, a 20 mile trail ride. This was the bike I tore my meniscus on. I think it was the different positioning from my hybrid bike that contributed to the injury.

I always had it serviced after long lay-offs. It's in good shape.
photo of kowboy83

about 1 year ago
Cacci, thanks for the Nishiki background.
photo of kowboy83

about 1 year ago
I bought my Nishiki in Toronto in '82 and still love it best of all my bikes, although I'm stuck on the hybrid for a while to baby my bum shoulder. (I spent too much time on the drop bars this summer.) I still have my receipt, and it cost $450 Canadian at that time. Cacci's info was fascinating. I had heard they left the US because of a lawsuit, but obviously my source was mistaken. My gears are mounted at the top of the diagonal part of the frame. (What DO you call that part?) I still prefer gears I can adjust by feel and sound to the newer, automatic ones. I think I avoid chain clatter better with the Nishiki than with my newer, higher tech bikes.

Nice to hear from a fellow Nishiki fan!

Chava Tirtsa
photo of chavatirtsa

about 1 year ago
Wow, I didn't know they still made the Nishiki - I don't even want to tell you how long ago I bought mine (can guarantee it was way over 10 years ago). I was going to give it to Goodwill, since it isn't good for handling the "hills" in Colorado. Now that I know it's a "classic" I'm going to polish it up and --- gee, I don't know, maybe hang it on the wall as art - lol.

about 1 year ago
chavatirtsa,

The tube is called the down tube and the shifters are called down tube shifters.

The other tubes: Head tube is the tube the front fork goes through and connects to the handlebars.

Top tube extends from the head tube to the seat tube (tube holding the seat post at the top and the bottom bracket at the bottom.

The two smaller tubes that go from the top of the seat tube to the rear axle are called seat stays and the two smaller tubes that go from the bottom bracket (shell that contains the pedal axle) back to the rear axle are called the chain stays.

Sorry, I got carried away!

Cacci
photo of Cacci

about 1 year ago
Replies 1 - 10 of 12