Mountain Biking - I went to the bathroom and the next thing i know...

MY BIKES BEEN STOLEN!!! So, the scene is sunday afternoon, somewhat overcast day, but the sun is peaking through the clouds. It rained last night and its a cool 50 degrees outside. Pretty much perfect riding weather. Anyways, i just got done taking my girlfriend to a bike store to test ride some bikes. It was a very fun afternoon. after we went to the bike store, we went to do some grocery shopping for the week. We finish, i head back to drop her off at home and get my bike from her garage. I put my bike in my car and head back to my house to go for an afternoon ride. I arrive at my house, unload my bike, unload my groceries, and then prop my bike up between my car and the garage. Mind you, i put in a location unviewable by cars driving down the street. So i walk in to the house, put the groceries away, drop a duece, wash my hands, and put on my rididng clothes. I sit down in the living room to velcro my shoes and i'm out the door only to realize that my bike is missing. I was inside my house for 15 minutes at the very max. I live in a small house and was never further than 40 feet from my bike at any time. when i was in the bathroom, assuming i had the window blinds open, i could see where my bike was sitting. unfortuantely, the blinds were down and i think my bike was stolen right out from under my very nose. I do not know how this happened and i am pretty devestated.

I started building my bike up last september. Got my fork in september, frame in november, and parts trickled in throughout the winter untill a month ago when i recieved my seatpost. It took me a very very long time to build this bike and i picked out every single part on it. it was my dreambike. and now it's gone. so it goes.

for the sake of the board, the componetry is as follows: specialized 18 inch stumpjumper frame (2005), reba race fork, thomson seatpost and stem, xt hubs, xt hydrualic brakes, xt integrated shifter brake levers, xt front and rear derailleur, xt chain, 3t pepper bars trimmed to a racey size, xt crankset and bb, xt cassette, eggbeater candy sl pedals, sun rhyno lite wheels, fsa headset, hope seat collar, oury grips, some sorta kinda comfortable but racey looking specialized saddle

I estimate there were less than 275 miles on it. I had a few early season crappy super muddy spring rides in town and was fortunate enough to take it Moab for my spring break. i went on three rides since spring break and broke my chain on my final ride. I repaired the chain yesterday and intended to ride today but my bike is gone. The proverbial rain cloud is dumping on my head right now.

You were a good bike black specialized stumpjumper. I wanted one of you ever since the third grade. I felt fortunate to have shared the little time we had together. Aside from the six flats in moab and the broken chain, you were very good to me.

as i have never posted a picture of my bike on here before, i believe now is an appropriate time.
<<edit for componetry>>

That sucks man.

Do you know your neighbours?

That's terrible, I feel for you man.:( I would probably be in tears if my bike got jacked.:cry:

It's not completely gone just yet, keep your eyes glued on craigslist and ebay. Hopefully you will get your bike back.

Check the pawn shops! Did you report it? I get sooooo pissed off when someone post this sort of thing.I hope the lazy,low down,POS crashes on it and breaks his neck. It just sucks that some folks are so lazy they will steal what you worked so hard for. Sorry %&*&$% **&*$#@......

That really sucks.

your bike is in our prayers...

you shoulda hopped in your car right away, he couldn't of gotten too far it what... 2 minutes?
but yah, make sure you've reported it. tell your lbs, and all your friends. a billion eyes is better than 2.

[ps-get a black thomson seatpost when you get your bike back.]

As soon as i realized it was missing, i jumped in the car and cruised the streets for 20 minutes.I drove around in my helmet, gloves, jersey and everything. I'm sure i looked rediculous. My neighbors are good people. The police report was filed 35 minutes after i realized it was missing. I even cruised around campus checking every bike rack. I just hate the situation though because i look at everyone riding a bicycle suspiciously now and that's not right. I am terribly bitter about this whole situation. Anyways, thanks for the support guys. I have printed off flyers to give to all the local bike shops adn post around town. My eyes will be all over ebay and craigslist for the next couple of months. I can't believe i won't have a bike to ride this summer.

I'll keep a lookout on the web as well. Hope you get it back.

My deepest condolences. But there is a lesson here.

Take things that can be used as a get away vehicle into the house ... FIRST. No one ever sped away from the scene of there robbery on a bag full of cans.

yeah i know. i should have put it in the garage. in retrospect, it's all 20/20.

and smith im from valpo! i've propbably seen you riding before. small world. hope the glen is still fun riding.

Well...I've checked ebay, pinkbike, and Montana craigslist to no avail.

I'll keep 'em peeled.

Good luck!

Bump back to the top for a stolen bike. You might want to insert a $150 reward into any future posters printed in search of the bike. There is no honor among thieves and they'll rat their mother for a Benjamin.

Oh man that is horrible!:mad:
I hope you get it back & catch the thief.
Imo,from the details you gave it would appear that who ever took it was watching you put it where you put it.

Check the pawn shops! Did you report it? I get sooooo pissed off when someone post this sort of thing.I hope the lazy,low down,POS crashes on it and breaks his neck. It just sucks that some folks are so lazy they will steal what you worked so hard for. Sorry %&*&$% **&*$#@......
I agree.

May possibly help if you post the serial number too.

ben, i was really excited to get your number at big dipper tonight so we could ride sometime, but when you told me the news i was devistated.:( I know how much you loved that bike. I'll really be keeping my eyes peeled for it.

I just hope the thief leaves it assembled...should be an easy one to spot given the custom build.

Could possibly be the only Black HT Stumpy out there with a Silver Thomson cockpit / Reba / and XT-RhynoLites.

It's always smart to do something just a little different when doing a build to give it that "it's mine" look so it's easy for locals to spot in cases like these. In your case, the silver Thomson cockpit seems a bit less popular than black and XT RhynoLites are a pretty tough wheel for an XC rocket. Good build and easy for locals and forumers to spot.

thanks for all the support guys. i'm handing out flyers with all the componetry and a picture to all the bike stores and pawn shops today. given the circumstances when my bike was stolen, i think i was being watched also. the limited time frame doesn't let me think it was just some guy walking down the street who wanted to ride a bike so he took mine. anyways, i'll try to restore one old stumpys kyle. we'll ride blue mountain soon. thanks again everyone! happy trails!

Ohhh man that sucks! I really to feel for you TB. Be sure to monitor Craigslist boards in N. Idaho and even as far west as E. WA too. Might not hurt to post some flyers on the bulletin boards and kiosks on the U of M campus too? Good luck.

this should be a wake-up call for all of us, to always be more protective...
(something in the nature of that, couldn't think of how to say it)

It is also a reminder to all of us to be sure to list your bike(s) as a separate scheduled property on your homeowners policy.

that is too bad about your bike. you may want to post this up on the MT board on mtbr. not sure if you can quantify your build, but your homeowners/condo/renter insurance policy should cover the replacement cost, less your deductible. depends on your lbs relationship, but they can help you quantify it. good luck

It is also a reminder to all of us to be sure to list your bike(s) as a separate scheduled property on your homeowners policy.

From what I have heard, it is not good to make a claim on home owner's insurance for a stolen bike. They have become so "tough" for lack of a better word, that some insurance company's will raise your rate just for calling them and asking a question about making a claim. Even drop people for a claim or two. Anyone have any comments on this, or successfully make a claim for a stolen bike (or more if they break into your house)?

Condolences.

I lost a bike under very similar circumstances. I was in the house for an even shorter period of time, and there was a stairway leading up to the entrance -- the perpetrator had to go up about a dozen steps, and take it off a balcony (which was surrounded by a low wall which blocked the view of most of the bike).

He/she/it must have seen me ride up.

It seems that a lot of things happen close to home, in familiar and secure (supposedly) surroundings -- many accidents and other mishaps. Ken Kifer died close to home. Most of my bike accidents have happened close to home. It probably has something to do with letting your guard down. There is some kind of assumption that 'these things don't happen here' and one tends to be less wary or cautious....

That is Horrible! If my bike was stolen I'd go on a flippin rampage until I found it. I really hope you get your dream bike back! Maybe you'll be out food shopping one day and see somebody pass you by on it. My god would I beat the person who stole it.

Man, sorry to hear this, I would be devastated also!

OH MAN...BUMMER! I always liked Missoula.... I will send this post to some buddies I have up there!

thanks a lot everyone. it is a shame that it's gone, but it was only a bike. i still have a roof over my head and food on the table. granted my bike was my livlihood, a source of happiness for me, and a way to connect with friends, it was just a bike. Maybe someday it will turn up. I've contacted my insurance company and my homeowners will cover a thousand dollars. Best news of all, my cousin hooked it up with a loaner and i was able to ride today! what a stress relief that was. There's nothing like swooping along some fast singletrack to forget about your problems. Granted i wasn't riding my bike, i was riding a bike. It made me very happy. Here's a picture of the loaner. Not a bad ride in the very least!

Nice...at least it's a bike.

Ride on!