It's A Fifty Plus Christmas Miracle!
08-21-08, 08:12 PM
#1
King of Dorkistan
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mescalito, Newer Mexico
Posts: 80
Bikes: K2 "Big Easy Deuce" 21s MTB/Cruiser hybrid. Huffy "Belfort" SS rat bike (Kept in truck bed for emergencies.)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's A Fifty Plus Christmas Miracle!
So, about 9 days ago I related how I'd come out of a meeting on campus and found my bike had been stolen. Someone mentioned that I should keep an eye on Craigslist to see if it turned up there. So while I was there, I saw a post for a place called 505recyclery.com. It's a local outfit (We're in the 505 area code) that buys and sells used bikes. The guy had posted a new service he was adding -- posting stolen bikes. As it happened, mine was the first bike posted.
Yesterday, I came home from running around to find an email from a guy who had, not only seen a bike like mine, but had purchased it at the flea market over the weekend. I sent him the serial number, and sure enough, it was my bike. The bell, computer, "Tour de Bosque" commemorative water bottle, and head & tail lights were gone, but the hitch for my son's Trail-a-bike was still there (probably the hardest thing to replace.) The guy said he'd had several bikes stolen over the years and knew the feeling.
I gave the guy the $50 he paid for it at the flea market plus a tip. So now I have my beloved bicycle back in my hands. I couldn't be happier.
(I was kind of getting into the idea of a new bike though. I'm still thinking of putting together a custom strictly offroad bike with parts from Craigslist and Freecycle.)
Yesterday, I came home from running around to find an email from a guy who had, not only seen a bike like mine, but had purchased it at the flea market over the weekend. I sent him the serial number, and sure enough, it was my bike. The bell, computer, "Tour de Bosque" commemorative water bottle, and head & tail lights were gone, but the hitch for my son's Trail-a-bike was still there (probably the hardest thing to replace.) The guy said he'd had several bikes stolen over the years and knew the feeling.
I gave the guy the $50 he paid for it at the flea market plus a tip. So now I have my beloved bicycle back in my hands. I couldn't be happier.
(I was kind of getting into the idea of a new bike though. I'm still thinking of putting together a custom strictly offroad bike with parts from Craigslist and Freecycle.)
08-21-08, 08:26 PM
#2
His Brain is Gone!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,979
Bikes: RANS Stratus, Bridgestone CB-1, Trek 7600, Sun EZ-Rider AX, Fuji Absolute 1.0, Cayne Rambler 3
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Great story! Very happy for you.
__________________
"Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen." Louis L'Amour
There are two types of road bikers: bikers who are faster than me, and me. Bruce Cameron - Denver Post
"Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen." Louis L'Amour
There are two types of road bikers: bikers who are faster than me, and me. Bruce Cameron - Denver Post
08-21-08, 08:34 PM
#4
Ride Daddy Ride
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Villa Incognito
Posts: 2,648
Bikes: 1983 Trek 720; 1983 Trek 620; 1989 Gi Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra; LeMond Victoire; Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Smokin!
__________________
"Light it up, Popo." --Levi Leipheimer
"Light it up, Popo." --Levi Leipheimer
08-21-08, 10:52 PM
#5
Fred E Fenders
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Again! Philippines & S. California
Posts: 1,453
Bikes: Jamis Aurora Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hope you got the info on where he bought it and turn it all over to the Police Department.
Crime at UC Davis = Stolen Bikes
Crime at UC Davis = Stolen Bikes
__________________
F Thomas
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
F Thomas
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
08-22-08, 03:50 AM
#6
Boomer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 7,214
Bikes: Diamondback Clarity II frame homebuilt.
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16098 Post(s)
Liked 1,457 Times
in
1,064 Posts
08-22-08, 09:18 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Green Valley AZ
Posts: 3,770
Bikes: Trice Q; Volae Century; TT 3.4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
This would be a great story for your local newspaper. They would have both a community hero who called you and the lowlife who sold the bike.
08-23-08, 08:43 AM
#9
King of Dorkistan
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mescalito, Newer Mexico
Posts: 80
Bikes: K2 "Big Easy Deuce" 21s MTB/Cruiser hybrid. Huffy "Belfort" SS rat bike (Kept in truck bed for emergencies.)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Plus, my fortune cookie last night said "An unexpected event will bring you riches." Of course... that could just mean I'll sue the driver who runs me over on my bike, and win."
08-23-08, 11:13 AM
#10
Road Nazi Hunter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Slow! But Ahead of You.
Posts: 409
Bikes: Kuota Kredo, Litespeed Vortex, Aegis Victory, Burley Tandem, Cannondale Rush
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Great luck. Allways check Craig's list first for stolen property. If I were a policeman, I would spend my time running down their ads. Most people on that list use it for anonymity. That's why the sell the stolen equipment there instead of ebay. Ebay is too transparent. I have tried to by lawn equipment and cycling equipment on Craig's list and each time, the seller ran when I asked too direct questions. Afraid of the heat????
