My beloved Raleigh 1998 C-40 was stolen last night :( Someone broke into my husbands van and stole my bike which was inside along with 2 new jandd grocery panniers, 2 Bell bike helmets {one in my bike bag and the other brand new still in box}, my lovely Raleigh affixed back wheel steel lock and my trusty floating eyeball bell :(
I drove up and down Venice, CA in search of the thief. I drove all up the main street where all the independent auto garages are to see if someone tried to sell them my bike for a lousy few dollars. I went to several pawn shops to see if it was hanging there folornly. Now I have given up. One thing I'll tell you though, driving aroundin awful traffic and in the head-pounding heat in my husbands classic 1977 V8 Thunderbird, having to park, pay the meter, park again and so on as several cyclists zoom by with not a care in the world...makes me miss my lovely C40 already! I am now moving on, I am ready to buy a raleigh passage 4 womens bike in amber and silver...
Put a couple of black fenders and a Blackburn bike rack and it'll look pretty darn dinky, huh!
ArizonaAdam
10-14-05, 09:11 PM
That wicked sucks, my condolences. I often welcome an excuse to buy a new bike but if it ever happened I know I’d freak out.
Guest
10-14-05, 09:29 PM
Definitely terrible. :( Sorry to hear about that. But do check the personals and craigslist.org, and if there are used bike shops in town, check those areas too. Most likely, the fools will eff it up and try to sell it without thinking that the owner is still looking.
Koffee
Jimezsmoot
10-14-05, 09:50 PM
Yeah I know! I don't know who actually files a police report nowadays but I did have my bike stampedby the police with my very own serial number so all I have to do is look in a specific spot to see if a similar bike is indeed mine.
I looked on Craigslist but nothing. I even posted an ad on CL stating that I want to buy a Raleigh ladies bike and for them to please send me a pic. Nothing yet.
It's weird but I never needed to look at bike retail sites until now. It's been 7 years since I last went to the Raleigh website...and boy! have things changed! My C40 had a steel frame but the Passage 4 has all aluminum....looking forward to feeling the difference.
Now I have to buy the accessories all over again.
Thanks for your replies guys :)
Smoot
2manybikes
10-14-05, 09:50 PM
Definitely terrible. :( Sorry to hear about that. But do check the personals and craigslist.org, and if there are used bike shops in town, check those areas too. Most likely, the fools will eff it up and try to sell it without thinking that the owner is still looking.
Koffee
Maybe Ebay too?
Jimezsmoot
10-14-05, 09:54 PM
Yeah, checked the newly listed raleigh bikes on Ebay too but to no avail....not yet anyhow.
I just have a feeling that some bum is riding it somewhere in West LA/Venice, collecting aluminum cans and oozing his nadsweat onto my brand new spring-comfort saddle.
folder fanatic
10-15-05, 11:24 AM
I do not think some bum is riding your stolen bicycle around. I feel it is a more professional type job since they actually went inside your husband's van and took it. This is more serious matter than just taking the bike off the street. My bet since Los Angeles is such a huge area to cover, it was probably taken out of the Venice area and that narrows down the chances of recovery. My heart felt support in your time of need and sorrow over the lost of your beloved bike. I feel this from personal experience as all the bikes taken from me was inside the City of Los Angeles.
My most recent purchases have reflected this by the purchases of portable (folding) bikes that I take with me at all times. No other type of bike works as well to be theft resistant.
Roody
10-15-05, 04:43 PM
You did report to the police? That way, if somebody pawns it, they might get caught. Many police dept.s have computer lists of stolen goods which pawn shops must report on.
Jimezsmoot
10-16-05, 01:00 PM
Hi Roody,
Yes, the bike was stolen from between 12.30 and 1am. I reported the bike stolen at around 2am when I got home. I did have 2 serial numbers on the underside; one which was a Raleigh one and the other which was a personalized serial number that the Police stamped into the frame for me.
I have a feeling we will cross paths in the future but for now, a new set of wheels is needed. Off to the bike shop now to get my Raleigh Passage 4.
humancongereel
10-16-05, 01:37 PM
this one reason i own a few bikes...if anything, even just a flat, happens to one, there are others waiting. seriously, i'd recommend replacing it, but also getting a beater as a backup...if you ever have to go through this again (sure hope not), you won't have to drive all over, you can ride!
ChroMo2
10-16-05, 01:44 PM
My beloved Raleigh 1998 C-40 was stolen last night :( Someone broke into my husbands van and stole my bike which was inside along with 2 new jandd grocery panniers, 2 Bell bike helmets {one in my bike bag and the other brand new still in box}, my lovely Raleigh affixed back wheel steel lock and my trusty floating eyeball bell :(
I drove up and down Venice, CA in search of the thief. I drove all up the main street where all the independent auto garages are to see if someone tried to sell them my bike for a lousy few dollars. I went to several pawn shops to see if it was hanging there folornly. Now I have given up. One thing I'll tell you though, driving aroundin awful traffic and in the head-pounding heat in my husbands classic 1977 V8 Thunderbird, having to park, pay the meter, park again and so on as several cyclists zoom by with not a care in the world...makes me miss my lovely C40 already! I am now moving on, I am ready to buy a raleigh passage 4 womens bike in amber and silver...
Put a couple of black fenders and a Blackburn bike rack and it'll look pretty darn dinky, huh!Sorry to break the bad news but a 1977 T-bird is'nt a classic. About your bike... somebody obviously watches you and doesn't like you guys. have you ever considered it to be a family member or a friend of the family? Or some other type of aquaintance?
ChroMo2
10-18-05, 07:54 PM
I don't think Jimiezmoot likes this thread anymore.
folder fanatic
10-19-05, 12:32 PM
Someone should inform Humancongereel that even a completely uglified beater would not work in Venice, CA. I am sure Boise is fine for the Beater Method of Sacrifice to the theif. I don't even use beaters anymore-although I use to up until some joker tried to steal my beater even double locked with a U-lock and a cable lock combined. I now only purchase and use folders that come with me at all times when I am out of the house cycling.
As for Venice, CA I live in the same city-Los Angeles. I am quite familiar with Venice as I used to go to the beach there when I was in college. I would not go there anymore.
ChroMo2
10-19-05, 06:09 PM
Someone should inform Humancongereel that even a completely uglified beater would not work in Venice, CA. I am sure Boise is fine for the Beater Method of Sacrifice to the theif. I don't even use beaters anymore-although I use to up until some joker tried to steal my beater even double locked with a U-lock and a cable lock combined. I now only purchase and use folders that come with me at all times when I am out of the house cycling.
As for Venice, CA I live in the same city-Los Angeles. I am quite familiar with Venice as I used to go to the beach there when I was in college. I would not go there anymore.
wow! beaters! I haven't heard anyone use that term in years! last time I heard someone use the term beaters I was licking frosting off of 'em :)