Classic & Vintage - Out of the friggin blue. My long lost Tommasini has been located.

As I've posted in the past, my favorite road bike - a late 90's Tommasini Tecno that I'd build with Record 10 speed - had gotten "misplaced" in an overseas shipment back in 2001. When my shipment arrived, all I had was the front wheel and the pedals. No bike. I had written it off, and moved on.

Last night I got a PM from the Road Bike Review forum (which I have not been an active member of for a while) saying "I think this is your bike". The note contained a link to the Denver Craigslist, and when I saw the ad, my jaw dropped. It was my bike, with a mis-matched front wheel, and everything else as I had left it - bar tape and all.

I called the number on the ad, and apparently this bike had been purchased by Wheat Ridge Cyclery in the Denver area and had been sitting in their shop for some time (the ad was posted by Wheat Ridge). The guy whose phone number was on the ad is a Wheat Ridge employee, and told me that they bought the bike from a guy who had apparently purchased the bike as part of a "lost item" storage unit lot. So, my bike must have gotten separated from the shipment somehow and put into a giant "lost and found" locker that was auctioned off at a later date.

Pretty wild, huh?

So, I'm working with them now to see what the options are. The guy is really being good about it, as a fellow bike nut, he would love to see the bike come back home to its original owner. I'm not pursuing any form of "stolen property" stuff - too much time has passed, and I no longer have any files with serial numbers, etc, and quite frankly don't want to get into that whole legal mess.
Wheat Ridge got the bike pretty cheap, and is looking into what kind of a deal they might be able to work out for me to get it back relatively cheap.

So, I'll keep you guys posted, but there is a possibility that I might get my dear Tommasini back after 12 years of being MIA. :) :) :)

Wow, cool!

:thumb: Fantastic! Best of luck to you!!!

That's amazing... the world really is getting smaller! After 11 or 12 years do you still have the front wheel?

I like bikes with neat "how found" stories attached to them. You must feel pretty good, right about now!

Very cool. I hope the ride is everything you remember it to be.

Well, I'll be.

That's amazing... the world really is getting smaller! After 11 or 12 years do you still have the front wheel?

Nope. I sold the wheel and pedals on Ebay in 2003.
I couldn't tell from the pics on the CL ad what front wheel someone had put on there, but it's a total mis-match. The rear wheel is a Campagnolo Proton - black hub, black rim with silver brake track, the replacement wheel is all silver.

I'll be taking it step by step. I'm really strapped for cash at the moment, but the guy seems very willing to try to work something out.

Holy crap. That is , nearly, unheard of. VERY good end to that saga. Wonderful about this bike nut community. Someone remembered your post and spotted it when it came up. Amazing.

Holy crap. That is , nearly, unheard of. VERY good end to that saga. Wonderful about this bike nut community. Someone remembered your post and spotted it when it came up. Amazing.

If only the bikes that have been stolen from me returned....

Pretty amazing if it all works out.

That is amazing!

Wow! It would be amazing enough if you spotted your own bike, but to have someone else spot it for you after over a decade is mind-boggling. :beer:

Neat story , thank you for sharing ! Flippin' unbelievable. ( Pics when it comes home !)

i like happy stories....

Wow.

This is a pretty neat story... I'm happy that the folks at that shop seem willing to work with you on recovering your bicycle.

Yeah, wow. If you were ever paid insurance money or compensation for the lost item you'd be pretty even just buying it off them (except for the minor issue of being cash-strapped). One way or the other, it's a win. :thumb:

I'd love to have someone call me and tell me my lost Eddy Merckx was found.

So, back then it sounds like it made it as far as Denver, but short of finding you in Palisade. Close, but no cigar.

I have done a lot of business with WR cycles over the years. I am glad they are coming through for you!

This is a pretty neat story... I'm happy that the folks at that shop seem willing to work with you on recovering your bicycle.

Agreed.

Classy and the right thing to do.

Good luck, man!

Warms the heart. I had a Vespa stolen years ago. Wrote it off - got a little insurance$$. Two years later a guy brings it to a local shop - says he found it in a ditch. Shop paid him $50, then they notified me "I think we have your p200" I paid 'em $50 for the fairly trashed carcass. The engine was salvaged and is in my current scooter.

I can't believe someone remembered your bike from a decade ago. It almost sounds fishy :)
So which pedals did you have on it originally?

Whoa - incredible that someone on RBR forum picked out your looooooooooongone baby! Good luck working out the details and great that the shop is on the correct wavelength! Must be your year.

Wow is right! Glad you are getting it back; too bad you have to pay for it.

Mind Boggling!!! And FANTASTIC!!!

Wow! I always love seeing pictures of this bike. It would be great to see some new ones.

best of luck getting it back.

What are the odds!?! Wow.

So which pedals did you have on it originally?


Thanks for all of the thoughts, you guys.
I'm still absolutely beside myself.

I've totally let the "stolen" thing go, and am not going to pursue getting it back by those means. I will work with them to arrange a buyback that they can live with. The guy told me that the shop has a ridiculously low amount invested into the bike, and is willing to work with me on payments or whatever will work for us both. Really, really cool, and the numbers are manageable - like no brainer numbers.

As an added element to the story, at about the same time the CL ad was posted, one of the long time customers of WRC actually bought it (on the 27th) with the intention of doing a retro build (SR perhaps) on it in lieu of the 10-speed record. He brought it home, completely disassembled it, then had a change of heart and called the shop to see if they'd take it back so he could get a 1930's bike that they had available. So, the bike will be coming back to the shop soon in pieces -which is actually better, since I'd rebuild it anyway, and is easier to ship.

So, the details are still unfolding, but it does look like the bike will be coming home eventually. Rest assured I'll be taking some pics for out C&V Tommasini thread.

Shoota - I had Campy Record Pro-fit pedals on the bike originally.

I'm still coming to grips with the reality that is unfolding.
My wife gave me the green light to pursue this and make the arrangements and manage the budget accordingly. She knows how much I love that bike, and is now longing for her old Gios that we sold many years ago. :)

Wow is right! Glad you are getting it back; too bad you have to pay for it.

Well, I did receive an insurance payout for "lost/damaged" items, including the bike, so I feel that it is better to keep things on good terms and above board. My initial thought was "oh, hey! that was stolen/lost and I should get it back, but as I re-opened the events of the shipment, etc, I remembered the insurance payment and was totally cool dropping the "stolen" thing.

Here's one of the pics of the original build that I came across when we exhumed our archives last night. I look forward to it coming home......

291610

Congratulations. Best wishes for your future together.

OK, I'm not going to say "wow", since everyone else did, LOL, but I will say that I think it's great, that you'll be getting your old bike back. :) Karma's kinda slow at times, but it usually works things out. ;)

In for the updates. Neat stuff. *high five

In for the updates. Neat stuff. *high five

Burning man leaning forward, awesome. :thumb: Talking about your avatar, obviously, for others' clarification. ;)

Well, I did receive an insurance payout for "lost/damaged" items, including the bike, so I feel that it is better to keep things on good terms and above board. My initial thought was "oh, hey! that was stolen/lost and I should get it back, but as I re-opened the events of the shipment, etc, I remembered the insurance payment and was totally cool dropping the "stolen" thing.

Here's one of the pics of the original build that I came across when we exhumed our archives last night. I look forward to it coming home......

291610

ok now i'll saw wow (plus subscribing ;))

On the other hand, there are only so many Tommasinis imported into the United States every year.

Yours has a fairly unique color scheme and Genius was only offered for a few years.

Pretty "out of the ordinary" and identifiable bicycles.

Barb at Tommasini is always helpful with frame id's if you should seek additional assistance.

I am hopeful for you there hasn't been any knock out punches to the frame, such as serious dents or corrosion.

As you know, everything can be rebuilt with period or modern components.

Take your time with your plan and enjoy.

In addition, I know you are following Casey's thread on my Super Prestige.

Tons of good ideas there for you.

Cool. Keep us updated. I love a good story.

Waiting for updates, love to hear the end of the story..

Shoota - I had Campy Record Pro-fit pedals on the bike originally.


Sexy! but man they are expensive!

I had an almost NOS Cannondale SR800 disappear off the back of a FedEx truck so I know the feeling. Its good to hear you found your bike!!!

On the other hand, there are only so many Tommasinis imported into the United States every year.

Yours has a fairly unique color scheme and Genius was only offered for a few years.

Pretty "out of the ordinary" and identifiable bicycles.

Barb at Tommasini is always helpful with frame id's if you should seek additional assistance.

I am hopeful for you there hasn't been any knock out punches to the frame, such as serious dents or corrosion.

As you know, everything can be rebuilt with period or modern components.

Take your time with your plan and enjoy.

In addition, I know you are following Casey's thread on my Super Prestige.

Tons of good ideas there for you.

The fork is Genius, but the frame is Columbus EL OS, which is really sweet tubing. The fork is the "upgraded" version that was available as an alternative to the standard "air" fork.

From the pics that were (briefly) on CL, the bike looked to be in excellent shape. The rear tire was the same as my original build, so unless one of the interim owners did a direct replacement, the bike has probably had minimal use. Same for the bar tape - it looked like the same tape and red finishing bands that I had put on. The crank had some very minor wear marks, but all of the components looked perfect, and there was no visible rust or dings on the frame.
I know it's been sitting and collecting dust at Wheat Ridge for some time.

I should hear back in the next couple of days as to what is next. <fingers crossed>

I had an almost NOS Cannondale SR800 disappear off the back of a FedEx truck so I know the feeling. Its good to hear you found your bike!!!

Man, that sucks. Was it insured?

After so many years, and any payoff money from the shipper having already been "absorbed", the question should be whether that old bike still appeals to you and if you'r really wanting to buy a bike at this time.
I would personally go for it if it could be bought back for well under market-value, but unless it has sentimental real value, I wouldn't be all that quick to buy back one of my long-gone bikes.

Is it still in the condition that it was in when it went missing?

And how lame of shippers to not keep track of lost items and their owners? A freind of mine had several peices of luggage lost by Amtrak recently, and they were really slow to even come up with the first one out of three, which seems appalling to me, then she has to drive out of town to pick it up!

After so many years, and any payoff money from the shipper having already been "absorbed", the question should be whether that old bike still appeals to you and if you'r really wanting to buy a bike at this time.
I would personally go for it if it could be bought back for well under market-value, but unless it has sentimental real value, I wouldn't be all that quick to buy back one of my long-gone bikes.

Is it still in the condition that it was in when it went missing?

And how lame of shippers to not keep track of lost items and their owners? A freind of mine had several peices of luggage lost by Amtrak recently, and they were really slow to even come up with the first one out of three, which seems appalling to me, then he has to drive out of town to pick it up!

This is certainly part of the consideration for me. I've been really wanting to get another road bike, but the budget just won't allow anything nice (new or used). I have been contemplating purchasing my friend's Raleigh Prestige on a monthly cash basis, but it looks like the Tommasini would be about the same amount (very reasonable), and there would be no comparison. The Tommasini is still the best riding bicycle I have ever ridden.
If this all comes to pass, it will be interesting to see how the bike feels to me now, with more than 12 years under the bridge. At the time, I set it up very aggressively, with a pretty large saddle to stem drop. The frame is probably 2-3 cm smaller than optimal for me, but once I had set it up, it fit like a glove, and my riding mates remarked how "natural" I looked on the bike. We'll see now that I'm 46. Based on my rides on my buddy's Prestige (similar setup), I think it'll be fine.

If this whole deal does come to pass, I'll use the remaining winter months to get everything cleaned and rebuilt, source some pedals, and keep my eyes peeled for an old proton/electron front wheel on Ebay, etc.

Man, that sucks. Was it insured?

Yes, it was a bike I sold on Ebay and I shipped it fully insured.

The wife of the guy who bought it owned the identicle model in the same color, he was so bummed when it happened. He was watching the tracking info so he could be home for the delivery, the packaged was scanned onto the truck but never delivered. I told the FedEx rep I wanted to report the bike as stolen but she wouldnt let me, I suppose I could have though. She said sometimes the shipping envelopes get torn from boxes and that was probably what happened.

I said, "if 40 boxes get scanned onto the truck in the morning and there's one left at the end of the day you should be able tell who sent it becasue there's an unclaimed scan?" I asked what they did with boxes that didnt have labels and she became very defensive. She didnt have an asnwer and thats when I accused the driver of stealing it.

Campy rims with no break wear.....

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Cannondale%20SR800/DSC01979.jpg

Awesome Canyon!

Were you at all compensated by whoever initially lost the bike?

Major kudos to the guy on RBR for looking out for you - what an awesome way to begin the New Year :) DD

Awesome Canyon!

Were you at all compensated by whoever initially lost the bike?

Fortunately, yes. I remembered that the shipper's insurance had paid for damaged/lost items, and immediately dropped the "stolen/lost" approach when dealing with WRC. The guys at Wheat Ridge are now being really good, and want the bike to get back into my hands. The guy I have been working with basically said "well, we're all bike nuts here, and that is a really special bike. We'd really love to see if there is a way you can get it back." Very, very cool.

DD - Absolutely. The person who PM'ed me deserves HUGE kudos here. It is pretty cool how this unfolded. I think I had posted some pics of the bike over in the Tommasini thread on RBR at least 5-6 years ago. Pretty amazing, really, that someone would happen to have seen that AND the CL ad. I'm still pretty stunned by it all.

Yes, it was a bike I sold on Ebay and I shipped it fully insured.

The wife of the guy who bought it owned the identicle model in the same color, he was so bummed when it happened. He was watching the tracking info so he could be home for the delivery, the packaged was scanned onto the truck but never delivered. I told the FedEx rep I wanted to report the bike as stolen but she wouldnt let me, I suppose I could have though. She said sometimes the shipping envelopes get torn from boxes and that was probably what happened.

I said, "if 40 boxes get scanned onto the truck in the morning and there's one left at the end of the day you should be able tell who sent it becasue there's an unclaimed scan?" I asked what they did with boxes that didnt have labels and she became very defensive. She didnt have an asnwer and thats when I accused the driver of stealing it.

Campy rims with no break wear.....



Oh, man, that truly sucks. Yeah, you'd think they would be able to resolve it pretty easily. I mean, bike boxes are pretty difficult to miss. :rolleyes: