Panasonic produced a line of road bicycles in the mid to late 1980s. The bike I used to commute to work over the last two years was, specifically, the Panasonic Sport 500. A cursory internet search will tell you that a 10 speed model was released in 1985, built on a steel frame with high tensile 1020 tubes and fork.

It was — it is — a great bike. I customized it quite a bit, but the fact remains that it had a strong frame, decent brakes and reliable tires. Ideal for the fifteen mile commute each day. It got me safely through a 45-mile bike tour (in unrelenting, ferocious rain). I was forced to leave it in storage in the states when I made the move to the UK (a bit too large to fit in the suitcase). I revisited it recently, this is a sort of homage.