The Adventures of Campy Girlymann Continue

Donatello's bike shop, like many shops on the main street of the village, was wood framed with a steep slanting roof.  The mechanic lived above his shop where a window was open and red geraniums bloomed at the windowsill.  Hanging near the door was the bicycle shop sign made from carved wood of a bicycle painted in bright colors and, if a breeze blew, the wheels turned. An aria could be heard from a radio near the the green front door.

Girlymann walked in and saw Donateelo putting bar tape on a bike, " Is that the beast?"

Donatello smiled and watched Campy walk toward him to the middle of his shop, " Don't call her a beast, she is a most beautiful bicicletta--but strong willed."

Campy looked at the detail of the fork, and joints. He admired the craftsmanship in the chrome filigree where the metal tubes joined. He ran his hand over the cherry red paint applied to the metal. His hand spun the rear wheel to hear the delicate clatter of the  rear hub spinning the cogs.

"You're right, she is most beautiful. A Pogliaghi that I heard you lovingly restored, Donatello. " 

"She rides well, Campy." The mechanic finished masking the tape, loosened the grip on the stand and lifted the bike down to the floor, "Here, take her out for a spin, tell me what you think."

Campy took hold of the bike and admired the vintage Campagnolo components. Down-tube friction shifting and brakes designed more for slowing the bike than coming to a quick stop. The bike glimmered in the noon day sun when he brought it out of the little shop and on to the street.  As soon as Campy mounted the bike he knew that Donatello  had adjusted the seat and bars to Campy's style. Girlymann reached down and pulled the strapped to tighten his shoe to the pedal and felt how easy the bike stayed true with his right hand off the bars.

Soon he left the little village to follow a country road he knew where the trees whispered and a brook glimmered patches of wet light along its path that followed the road. Campy felt the bike's easy handling, its swift flight over the asphalt. It wasn't his beloved De Rosa but the bike did handle as if it knew ahead of time of where Campy wanted to go and that's what Girlymann needed if he was to succeed in finding his De Rosa.

To be continued....