I used the serial numbers stamped into the bike to determine its date of manufacture. I learned later that this bike was a Schwinn Caliente made in Chicago in 1983. Schwinn Caliente: A Cheap Road Bike for Under $100 I was set! A new hobby for a total of $53. Made it back to work about 20 minutes early, enough time to drive to K-Mart to get a bicycle helmet ($15) and a bicycle lock ($10). The man paused for a moment and then said, "OK". I'm sure it is worth $35, but would you take $28 right now?"
I had received cash for the return- $28- which was still there. I can't remember if they were the wrong size or the wrong color or the wrong style. It is normally empty, except earlier that week I had returned some clothes that my wife bought and wanted me to return. I then realized that I didn't have $35 with me. "How much were you thinking for this one?" I asked. The tires had some deep cracks and were half flat, probably would need to be replaced. The bike seemed to fit okay, and the brakes worked. The elderly man unchained the bike and walked it down to the sidewalk so I could try it out. I asked if I could "test drive" the blue one, the newest looking and largest sized bike in the group for sale. An elderly couple appeared in the doorway almost instantly- I suspect they had been watching me for a while. I walked up the rotten stairs of the porch and knocked on the door. The plan I came up with at that moment: chain the bike in the bike rack at work and leave it there all the time. But what would I do with a bike? I drive about 30 minutes to and from work, certainly too far to ride a bike and certainly too much trouble to haul it back and forth.