Are you aware of the way pawn shops function? They essentially offer you a loan for whatever things you have, and keep your stuff for xxx days until you either return with cash to pay it back or they try to sell it. Their "line of bull" is the way they work.

Check craigslist for a bike to buy as well if your's doesn't turn up.

The Trek 1000 seems like a pretty decent ride in the $600.00 range too.

You might be able to find a deal on one to get it below $600.00.

Sorry to hear about your bike. I've had bikes stolen in the past too and it is a true sense of violation and loss that is felt afterward. Since the last theft five years ago, I always use two locks: a monster Bulldog chain lock and a thick cable lock (I ride a recumbent so U-locks don't fit around my frame or give me enough length). I have become so accustomed to always locking it, I didn't even realize I had put both locks on it on Friday when I stopped at an outdoor ATM, parking less than ten feet from the machine! It's a good habit to get into, I suppose. If you get your bike back or buy a new one, budget at least a hundred for locks (two) and never ever ever fail to lock it. And, of course, lock it somewhere very visible with high-pedestrian-traffic. That discourages opportunity thieves. I hope you get the situation resolved soon and hope the dirty rotten piece of excrement that stole it endures years of anguish for his or her actions (they used to shoot or hang horse-thieves, remember: that lattitude should be allowed for bikes, don't you think? LOL).

There are a bunch of factors to consider. If you are locking a $1,000 bike, and leaving alone for hours in a bad neighbohood, you need the New York lock, or the OnGuard Brute, plus a second u-lock for the front wheel.

If you are locking up a $300 bike in "Friendly Village" for fifteen minutes, a lighter lock, such as the Krytonite Evolution 2000 mini u-lock is good enough.

If you have a bike that you want to get rid of, just use a cable lock. They are like a sign saying "Get your free bike right here".

And, if you have a $2,000 bike and leave it alone at the same spot day after day...no lock in the world is strong enough. If the bike is attractive enough, and the crook has time to get ready, he WILL get that bike.