Lost my first bike
05-06-13, 09:58 AM
#1
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Lost my first bike
Well, lightning struck and I had my first bike theft. Rode it Saturday to and from the farmers market, unloaded, rode a bit more and I guess I blanked out and either forgot to lock it or completely forgot to wheel it into my fenced-in area with the rest of the bikes. Noticed my helmet laying on the drive way Sunday evening, went down to retrieve it and noticed my bike MIA. Bummer. Took both my locks and my lights, too. At least they left my helmet!
Fortunately, it wasn't a very expensive one - $250 Schwinn Trailway. With some small humor, I was planning to buy a "backup" bike this weekend - an inexpensive fixed frame single speed - for this kind of occasion. Looks like I will have to step it up and get a better replacement. Likely, I'll just buy the same model. It was pretty good for a department store bike, I think.
I will be getting back into the habit of bringing them in every night; I guess my roommates will overlook any inconvenience now that they've seen this happen first hand.
Lesson: Always double check your security!
M.
Fortunately, it wasn't a very expensive one - $250 Schwinn Trailway. With some small humor, I was planning to buy a "backup" bike this weekend - an inexpensive fixed frame single speed - for this kind of occasion. Looks like I will have to step it up and get a better replacement. Likely, I'll just buy the same model. It was pretty good for a department store bike, I think.
I will be getting back into the habit of bringing them in every night; I guess my roommates will overlook any inconvenience now that they've seen this happen first hand.
Lesson: Always double check your security!
M.
05-06-13, 10:11 AM
#2
Pedaled too far.
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Sorry to hear it. You won't make that mistake again. 
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05-06-13, 11:10 AM
#3
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You can get a replacement bicycle but the worst thing they've taken from you is your peace of mind. I hate that.
05-06-13, 11:40 AM
#4
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All this time i take my helmet in with me, it's only $20 so i should just leave it with the bike too eh? After Ciclavia i saw a nice roadie parked around a pole at venice beach with just a large cable lock *facepalm*
05-06-13, 11:52 AM
#5
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Artkansas: Yep, I am stowing things inside for now on. Don't care if I have to fumble with them getting them up the porch steps. More motivation to finally buy that set of folding bikes for the S.O. and I.
Astro: As opposed to having the wheels locked to the frame, and then the frame to the pole?
M.
05-06-13, 05:32 PM
#6
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Good news! On my way home today (borrowed my roomates bike to get to work), I found myself at a crosswalk. I saw a bike leaning against the McDonalds at that intersection and idly thought what a bad place to just leave a bike that was, because it would get stolen just like mine.
Then I saw that there was a white tag hanging under the seat. Just like mine.
SO I walked across to get a closer look and saw it had a black cable lock and some cheap LED lights. Just like mine.
AND wouldn't you know it, it was my bike! So, I lugged it and the other one I borrowed home and I have recovered my property. Likely it was one of the neighborhood kids, and possibly the one I've seen nearby walking with a McDonald's uniform shirt on. Guess he will figure it out when the bike isn't there after his shift - assuming it was him, which isn't a certainty. Either way I'm not going to take it any further. Maybe I should start a neighborhood bike coop or something...
M.
Then I saw that there was a white tag hanging under the seat. Just like mine.
SO I walked across to get a closer look and saw it had a black cable lock and some cheap LED lights. Just like mine.
AND wouldn't you know it, it was my bike! So, I lugged it and the other one I borrowed home and I have recovered my property. Likely it was one of the neighborhood kids, and possibly the one I've seen nearby walking with a McDonald's uniform shirt on. Guess he will figure it out when the bike isn't there after his shift - assuming it was him, which isn't a certainty. Either way I'm not going to take it any further. Maybe I should start a neighborhood bike coop or something...
M.
05-06-13, 07:16 PM
#8
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Good news! On my way home today (borrowed my roomates bike to get to work), I found myself at a crosswalk. I saw a bike leaning against the McDonalds at that intersection and idly thought what a bad place to just leave a bike that was, because it would get stolen just like mine.
Then I saw that there was a white tag hanging under the seat. Just like mine.
SO I walked across to get a closer look and saw it had a black cable lock and some cheap LED lights. Just like mine.
AND wouldn't you know it, it was my bike! So, I lugged it and the other one I borrowed home and I have recovered my property. Likely it was one of the neighborhood kids, and possibly the one I've seen nearby walking with a McDonald's uniform shirt on. Guess he will figure it out when the bike isn't there after his shift - assuming it was him, which isn't a certainty. Either way I'm not going to take it any further. Maybe I should start a neighborhood bike coop or something...
M.
Then I saw that there was a white tag hanging under the seat. Just like mine.
SO I walked across to get a closer look and saw it had a black cable lock and some cheap LED lights. Just like mine.
AND wouldn't you know it, it was my bike! So, I lugged it and the other one I borrowed home and I have recovered my property. Likely it was one of the neighborhood kids, and possibly the one I've seen nearby walking with a McDonald's uniform shirt on. Guess he will figure it out when the bike isn't there after his shift - assuming it was him, which isn't a certainty. Either way I'm not going to take it any further. Maybe I should start a neighborhood bike coop or something...
M.
05-06-13, 07:31 PM
#9
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Some kid will probably post how he left his bike outside Mickey D's and some jerk stole it....
05-06-13, 07:40 PM
#11
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They have stolen your faith in the kindness and honesty of your fellow human beings. I don't believe in that crap, but some folks do.
05-06-13, 07:51 PM
#12
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What a great ending!
Have you consider a folding bike? A bit more expensive, but a lot easier to lug around and store, and much easier to keep an eye on.
Have you consider a folding bike? A bit more expensive, but a lot easier to lug around and store, and much easier to keep an eye on.
05-06-13, 08:09 PM
#13
commu*ist spy
I got my first bike stolen in high school. It was a $20 piece of crap my dad bought off of an auction or something. I was very sad because $20 was a big deal to me back then, and the bike was actually way better than my mom's bike, which was a piece of $hiT.
But anyway, I never leave my bike unlocked. And if I have to leave it unattended, I always make sure either it's a populated area, or there's cameras somewhere watching my bike. Even if it's locked, most locked can be easily cut with a cable cutter. But then again, I've never commuted in big cities, so ymmv
But anyway, I never leave my bike unlocked. And if I have to leave it unattended, I always make sure either it's a populated area, or there's cameras somewhere watching my bike. Even if it's locked, most locked can be easily cut with a cable cutter. But then again, I've never commuted in big cities, so ymmv
05-06-13, 08:18 PM
#14
Senior Member
I never had a bike stolen but when I was a kid my mom's boyfriend stole a bike for me...
I walked in the house after school and there was a bike in our living room with a can of black spray paint sitting next to it.
I had to paint it before I took it outside to ride it.
I walked in the house after school and there was a bike in our living room with a can of black spray paint sitting next to it.
I had to paint it before I took it outside to ride it.
05-06-13, 08:50 PM
#15
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M.
05-09-13, 10:38 AM
#18
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05-30-13, 02:21 PM
#19
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Update!
Was browsing Craigslist to see what kind of bikes are for sale in my neck of the woods. Look what I found!
https://smd.craigslist.org/bik/3786508326.html
That is my Trailway. Guess that explains where I misplaced those reflector bands...
M.
Was browsing Craigslist to see what kind of bikes are for sale in my neck of the woods. Look what I found!
https://smd.craigslist.org/bik/3786508326.html
That is my Trailway. Guess that explains where I misplaced those reflector bands...
M.
05-31-13, 08:17 PM
#20
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DO you happen to have the serial number to it? or a picture with a distinct mark on it? Ive had one stolen before and the cops told me they cant do much unless i can prove the bike was mine.
05-31-13, 10:41 PM
#21
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Thread Starter
Nah, just circumstance; all the same accessories, happens to be posted on the day after I noticed it was MIA, etc.
Not going to pursue it, just some kid trying to make a buck at someone elses expense, yeah, but nobody got hurt.
M.
Not going to pursue it, just some kid trying to make a buck at someone elses expense, yeah, but nobody got hurt.
M.
06-01-13, 12:12 AM
#22
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I'm a little confused here, I thought that you found your bike at McDonald's now you are saying that you found your bike on Craigslist? Did you steal someone else's bike from McDonald's by accident?
06-01-13, 08:33 PM
#24
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