BCRider

Out riding around doing errands in town today with the old but sweet riding Norco Rampage. Went into the bank leaving it cable locked to a sign post. Came out and it was gone. Helluva feeling.

Yeah, I know cable locks aren't really locks. I just always hated carrying the heavy U lock. Also it just wasn't as handy to use for locking to a lot of the bike racks around here.

Reported it to the police but as we all know stolen bikes isn't high on any law enforcement list. If they catch such folks it's usually because the theives are stupid or by accident when looking into some other complaint. So I'm not holding much hope that I'll ever see the ol' gurl again.

I'll miss that bike. I commuted to work with it for many years until I retired two years back. Since then it's been my main "go to" errand bike where a back pack was enough for the mission of the day thanks to easy access platform pedals and nice upright seating. The spirit came from the sexy riding Tange Prestige tubing in the frame on that old school high end cross country racing frame.

.... sigh....

Dan The Man

Sorry to hear it. I lost my first road bike, a Devinci Chicane, to the streets of San Francisco half way through a west coast bicycle tour.

SlimRider

It has happened to me on three past occasions...

Sorry for your loss

- Slim

Easy Peasy

I would so love to catch someone in the act of stealing my bike.

Ekdog

Sorry to hear about this. Be sure to check Craigslist. I've read about people finding their stolen bikes there and getting them back.

buzzman

Bummer.

seenoweevil

So sorry to hear this. I tempt fate way too often around here by not even using a cable lock. I need to pay attention. Hope you find your bike.

mynameuk

a couple of years back i splashed out on a half decent mountain bike. spent hours in the shop choosing and getting it all set up. i owned it for less than an hour before it was stolen. still makes me feel really crappy when i think about it.

on the other hand, when i was still at school someone stole my crappy bike that i never rode, the insurance payed for a shiny new one and that is what stared my love for cycling so i guess you have to look for the positive right.

BCRider

Thanks guys. I knew folks like you would understand. Losing a bike that we've fitted to ourselves is like losing that favourite car, pair of shoes or your favourite chair or something similarly personal. It's more than just a machine after it's shared so much time with us.

I'm certainly planning on watching the great online fence otherwise known as Craigslist for it. If I see it I'll contact the police about it.

I put in a report with the police on the way home but as I said I don't hold much hope. And frankly it was a $40 frame I got from a second hand sports store and fitted out with some OK but far from top end parts. But as you all know the final product, when done right and fitted well, is far more than just the basic sum of the parts. So although there was probably only about $350 of out of pocket cost I feel like I lost a good buddy.

Mind you one door closes and another opens. I'm already on the hunt for a new frame....

GriddleCakes

Like a pit in the bottom of your stomach, right? I've been there, it sucks. Sorry about your bike, I really hope that you get her back.

Sixty Fiver

I would hate to be the guy caught stealing my bike.

Did you know a shackle serves a dual purpose in that most are big enough to shackle a human around the neck and to a post ?

DrJerry

There is a little sticker I would like to know where to buy:
It's yellow with red and black lettering, kinda like an OSHA Safety sticker. It reads something like;
CAUTION!! AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Don't mess with this bike"
I have seen a couple of them around so somebody is obviously selling them.

Berta

I'm so sorry your bike is gone. I hope you find a great frame or find your stolen bike somehow. Mine was stolen in March right out of my house. Sheesh. The other night I saw a teenage boy riding a bike that looked a little like it but in a different color. It caught my eye because of the type of bike it was--a women's step-through model like my Trek Pure! It did make me wonder about the rider, but I'll assume he was riding his sister's or girlfriend's bike. I know what you mean about the U-lock, but I got used to carrying one since I started riding because of where I live. There's no way around it here, obviously; I should've used one in my house from the start!

marmot

Jerks will steal anything that isn't nailed down. Once I left my old, cheap crappy canoe on the driveway beside my car, went into the house to grab some tiedown rope, and the boat was gone when I came out five minutes later. Messed up my fishing plans, but insurance bought me a new canoe. I suspect the culprit was a garbage picker cruising the neighborhood in a truck.

Mark Stone

Keep your eye on Craig's List and Ebay - they didn't steal it to ride it

mynameistaken

Sorry about your bike. That really blows.

What brand of lock was it? I have a kryptonite cable lock that i use sometimes as well as a u lock. i prefer the cable as its lighter and easier to manage.

alan s 

Sorry to hear about your loss. My bikes and extra wheels are locked inside my locked house and car at all times. Double locked at work at all times with all accessories removed. If someone breaks in, they will hopefully take something else. I don't run errands with my bikes, but if I did, the bike would be locked in a visible area with a u-lock and cable lock. Always try not to make it too easy for thieves.

Wolfwerx

That sucks. I hope the person that took it gets what they deserve.

From what you wrote, it seems that it wasn't your main ride. I guess there's the silver lining, that you still have a bike to ride.

10 Wheels

Sorry to hear that.

djork

DrJerry: Check Ebay. It's sold there. A few weeks back seller had a sale on them. Should have bought one. Now they're like $3. Anyway, think it's sold out of Los Angeles.

CptjohnC

+1 on watching Craigslist. But honestly, you have a much better chance of recovering it if you make contact yourself. I tried the cop method, giving the cops the SN, the CL listing, lots of details, etc... They claimed they attempted to make contact through a blind e-mail, but no success. I think if I had gone straight to the poster, I might have had a chance. Of course, I'd probably have been 'paying' for my own bike, but then I could have a description of the perp, and probably some details... I could even have contacted the cops on my way to the meetup.

Around here I see guys on old Mixtes and step throughs all the time; they tend to be cheap to buy, and for basic transportation they're just as good, right?

VictorMikeLima

That is such a bummer to hear!

My bike has never been stolen... But I have had my car stolen (and never found). It's a pretty empty and surprising feeling...

Hope you make it through it all okay.

yuzu

Did you get that from watching Breaking Bad?

Ira B

Thank you for that potentially useful tip!
If I ever catch someone trying to steal my ride I will now be able to tell the cops exactingly where to find them as they wait a few hours for me to show up with the key.

Dahon.Steve

Every week we see forum members getting their bikes stolen while left in front of full view. The other day, somoene lost their 1K bike locked to a bike rack. I've been posting for years now that the worse place to park a bike is on a bike rack or full view of the public. In fact, my worse experiences were when I did just that and regret it to this day.

I now hide my bike from full view. In malls, I'll park the bike in the back or a fense 500 feet from the door.