I read that too fast. I thought it said some biotech gang, and I had a vision of geeky guys in lab coats running around stealing bikes.

I've had too many bikes stolen over the years, which is what I get for living in New York City, I guess.

A Raleigh Grand Prix that I got when I started high school. It was stolen somewhere along the line. I forget exactly when or where. I don't think U-locks had been invented then.

One really nice one -- a Schwinn Tempo that was a really sweet bike. I bought it some time in the mid-eighties, and had it for years. Then I lent it to my brother, who was working as a bike messenger back then. It survived, that miraculously, but it was stolen from me a couple of years later. It was well-locked, with a (then) state-of-the art Kryptonite U-lock securing the frame and wheels. I locked it up outside a friend's apartment for a few hours, came out, and it was gone. I really miss that bike. I'd still be riding it today.

Later, I bought a Shogun Raleigh Sports clone at a flea market. It was pretty much brand new, and it was a great commuter bike. I locked it up outside the Brooklyn Inn one evening (at Bergen and Hoyt). I was in there all night, until closing time. Came out and it was gone. I used to ride it there practically every night. I wonder if someone got used to seeing it there and came for it one night.

I've had parts stolen, too. Here in New York, people will steal the racks off your bike. One day I locked up the above-mentioned Shogun outside my midtown office building. Went to work, came out at the end of the day, the bike was there. Mounted up, started riding, got to the corner, tried to stop for the light, nothing happened. Someone had stolen my front brake pads. Luckily, they left me the back pads. I think this was because my bike was parked right outside the messenger center for the building, putting it on display in the midnight bike parts store.

Another bike (which I still have). Rode to work. I had a rack with those folding Wald wire baskets on it. Came out of work, the bike was there, but the rack and baskets were gone.