Colinator3000

In 2006, while I was away at college, the bike my late uncle gave to me before he died of cancer at age 36 — which was kept in my father's shared garage — went missing. (It's a shared garage next to an apartment house and all the bays are open, but everyone knew everybody else and generally trusted each other. I might have been foolish leaving it out but I was young, it was a small town, etc... but that's beside the point of this post anyway. Moving on...) I thought it was stolen by a friend of a neighbor or grabbed by someone who moved out. I missed it very much, and particularly these days while I'm living in New York City, where I can make great use of it.

The bike was a Bianchi Campione d'Italia with Formula Two Columbus tubing. (I'm a complete novice when it comes to bike knowledge and jargon so bear with me.)

A few months ago, my father was cleaning out his apartment and the garage in preparation to move out of the state. He found the owner's manual to the bike (now in the trash) and struck up conversation about it with some guy at the local American Legion (small town, remember). One thing led to another and it became clear that the landlord had cleaned out the unused garage bays that had an assortment of old dusty bikes and apparently my bike was scooped up with them. This was eight years ago.

The guy took the bike, used it and cared for it. He bought new tires and tubes for it; tracked down adapters so the tires could be inflated using a compressor; added a bike rack over the rear tire to prevent mud from giving him a racing stripe; had the thing tuned up; always kept it indoors; got a new seat for it; put a kickstand and speedometer on it; and generally kept it roadworthy and comfortable to ride.

The guy told my father that he hadn't ridden it in about a year. So I contacted the landlord, told him the situation and asked him to get the bike back. He called the guy, who reluctantly said he would part with it but wanted to be paid for the time and money he put into it.

So here we get to my question and why I'm telling you all this: He said he put about $200 into the bike and me being so happy to have my late uncle's bike back agreed to it. I looked up the cost of new tires and tubes it seemed like $200 was a fine price given everything else done to it. Do you think I paid a fair price to get this bike back?

Also, any help on identifying the year of this bike would be appreciated. Thanks!

gaucho777 

Absolutely (assuming the kickstand did not damage the frame)! Great story and wonderful that you could get the bike back into the family. Living in a small town can have its advantages.

By the way, if the bike has not been fully-overhauled since it was last in your possession, the bearings (particularly the bottom bracket and hubs) could use some fresh grease. Riding bikes with dried out bearings is not good.

And welcome to the forum!

eschlwc

had it been me with my uncle's bike, i would have paid much more and been joyously relieved.

bhchdh 

Nice story, you did fine.

Colinator3000

Thanks for the welcome!

Yeah, since he hasn't ridden it much in the last year or so I should probably have it looked at. I just got it back to Brooklyn yesterday so I'll be researching shops to bring it to. Anyone in the area know of any good Bianchi shops?

Narhay

First, I'm happy you were able to recover a part of your family's history and if you're ok with the $200, then it is a small price to pay for something that means that to you.

However, I'm of the thought that the guy enjoyed a free bike for 8 years that was never rightfully his for the cost of some tires, tuneups and time. If I were the landlord I'd give it back and say thanks for the years of riding but it is time to return it to your family.

headloss 

Reasonable to ask for the money invested back... now send a bill to that jerk of a landlord for stealing your property.

likebike23

I'm with Narhay on this one. The person who got the bike for free to use for 8 years showed no class in extorting money from you. $200 isn't too bad for the bike, but I'm of the opinion that it's too much for the parts the guy added. It looks ok, but as others have said, it would benefit from a bearing service. Also, the cables look to be original and it would shift and brake much more smoothly with a new set.

ofgit

+1. He didn't throw it away with the other 'dusty old bikes' so must have been somewhat aware of its value and utility.

elboGreaze

He may not have put $200 in it , but if I were you , I'd be very happy ! Enjoy your Bianchi !

repechage

If most of the labor was done by a shop, then it could have hit near $200.
One could be stern and advise that he had the utility of the changes before he was put into contact with you, but so it goes.

Colinator3000

At first, I was really excited to learn my uncle's bike was still attainable and not stolen like I had originally thought for years. Then I thought, "Hey, the landlord is really responsible for taking my bike in the first place, so he should deal with getting it back and I shouldn't have to pay anything for it." The landlord claimed to have asked my dad if any of the bikes in the garage were his and my dad just shrugged and didn't put up much defense. (I believe the bike was on the edge of my dad's bay and an unused bay so it may have been an out-of-sight, out-of-mind situation.)

Then I thought about the poor sap who was given a great bike without a clue of its history and spent money on it thinking it was rightfully his. So I just chose to take the path of least resistance and I ate the $200 to get the bike back. It's a great bike, perfect for lugging up and down my third-floor walk-up and a joy to ride.

Thanks for the tips on fixing it up. I'll look into changing the cables.

Uncle Randy

Colin, did you file police report when the bike disappeared 8 years ago?

Colinator3000

I did not. I was away at college at the time when it disappeared and didn't actually know exactly when it disappeared. I only discovered it was missing after I returned home at the end of the semester. I suppose I could have went that route, but I wouldn't have expected miracles from my local small-town PD.

Lascauxcaveman 

From your story, it sounds like you can't blame the landlord too much, if your dad was indifferent about whose bike it was. The guy who charged you $200 is being a little extortive in the sense that his 8-year-old tires and speedometer are now worn out and obsolete. The rack is still good, I'm guessing.

old's'cool

Landlord sounds like an opportunist/scammer but myself I wouldn't pick that battle for 200 bones; I have things I'd rather spend time & effort on. Bad karma to the landlord.

Pars 

Yeah, I guess the $200 isn't bad to have it back. Essentially though, it WAS stolen.

And further, you should do the work yourself, if you have the time and inclination. Are there any bike coops around? You might be able to take it there and learn how to do it yourself, with access to the right tools (not much in tools are really required, but helpful).

Chrome Molly

Just substitute the car for bike in your story and reconsider... Were it me, I would have taken the tires and tubes off and walked away with my bike. And that is if I wanted to remain civil with the person in question...

jon c. 

It's a nice bike and it has sentimental value. I'd have paid the 2 bills without a second thought. Sure, the 'owner' is tacky at best to ask for money, but he did apparently came by the bike honestly. I'd just figure he needs the money more than I do.

Ed.

I'd not give it another thought. Don't waste your time or energy over it, you have the bike. Was the guy scum? Who cares.

I purchased a wind vane made by my Grandfather from the then owner of my Grandparents' house. Silly me, I told the guy that it was made by my Grandfather, and would he be interested in selling it. "Sure, how's $1500 sound to you." While I thought that was more than a little out of line, I didn't quibble as I wanted it, very badly. Every day, when I look at it, or hear it, I don't give the money a second thought, I just marvel at how, 80 or so years ago, Poppie took some junk, put it together, and now it's on our roof. You'll be thinking the same, except, of course, that the bike won't be on your roof.

Uncle Randy

I'm guessing that the landlord thought it was abandoned by someone who moved out and decided to keep it for himself. A police report would have changed everything but the main thing is you got your bike back.

Colinator3000

Thanks for your comments everybody. Looks like the poll results are 65-35 in favor of $200 being a fair price for this. Of course, it means a lot more to me because it was one of the last nice gestures by my uncle before he passed. I suppose it is just human nature to seize on the opportunity to make a few bucks when you have the upper hand in the negotiation. Maybe I was too easy with him, call me a pushover, but I'm happy that the bike is mine again. Money comes and goes anyway.

And thanks for the suggestion on looking into co-ops. I found this link and there are a few in the city: Bicycle Collective and Co-op Links. Not sure how much I'll be able to do myself without driving my roommates nuts with greasy bike parts all over the apartment, but I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the story, Ed. That guy with the weather vane was a total dick, but like me, you still got it.

Ed.

I was going to include a photo of it, but I don't have one in this computer or on line.

Duane Behrens

Oh, HELL yes. I mean . . . you got your bike back.
Treasure it.

rhm

The situation and outcome are not optimal, but there's plenty of blame to go around and I can't single out any one party for a bigger share than another. It's rare to find an injustice that really can be solved by the exchange of cash; but you found one.