RogerGarrett

I posted this in a different part of the forum, and it was recommended I repost here as well, so here goes....

I'm new to the forum, but I've really enjoyed browsing through all the posts - lots of fun!

My reason for posting is this - if anyone in the central Illinois area runs across a bike for sale, a Trek 420 that has had Shimano STI shifters added to it, 1996 model (Charcoal with blue lettering), please contact me at rgarrett@iwu.edu. It was stolen from the University of Illinois in Champaign outside of a bar just a few nights ago. This was a gift to my son a couple of years ago (it had been my road bike for several years before I got the Lemond), and I had upgraded it with some nice components.

I'm pretty ticked it was ripped off, and he is without his bike now. If you are in the are - keep your eyes open and know that this is somewhat of a rare bike in this configuration.

Thanks!

Best,
Roger Garrett

scroca

Many years ago, when I attend U of I, they used to steal them from there and take them up to Chicago to sell. I'd watch craigslist in Chicago, Stl Louis, etc.

Got the serial # by any chance?

Good luck.

RogerGarrett

Thanks for posting. You sure feel violated when someone steals something that personal from you.

I think we have the serial number somewhere. If we don't, I guess we can't recover it even if we find it..........although it has the sticker from Vitesse Bike Shop on it, and they had serviced it several times.

I have been checking Craigslist in all the cities listed next to Champaign-Urbana, including Chicago and St. Louis. Haven't seen hide nor hair.

Lot of nice bikes on Craigslist for quite a bit less than new - that's for sure.

RogerGarrett

Here is a picture of the bike from a brochure online. I posted incorrectly - it is a 1989 Trek 420 Sport Touring bike. I don't know why I wrote 1996......sheesh.

beech333

There is some sort of flea market near Chicago, possibly just South of Chicago, that has a reputation for selling stolen bikes. Try researching that...and good luck.

nixternal

There are 2 places, 'Back of the Yards' which is right around Racine and 47th, by the old stockyards. The flea market that used to sell a ton of bikes is in Alsip, the Swap-o-Rama. There is also a branch of this flea market near Lake and Manheim as well. 'Back of the Yards' takes a bit of balls to go into looking for stuff to buy. Great place FYI to get some bootlegged DVDs

beech333

This is what I was thinking of. I've never been there..just heard about it and kept it in mind in case my bike was ever stolen.

nixternal

Yeah, Swap-o-Rama used to be the place for the goods, but now the cops sting that place almost on a weekly basis. I used to like going there back when I traded comic books and/or baseball cards, as there was a couple of booths inside that were good to deal with actually. Fake clothes are the big thing there, and I think that is what has brought the cops there big time. Most bikes that are being stolen though and sold that are from Chicago or within a couple hundred miles or so, are heading out of state. I read something recently about Detroit getting a bunch of our Chicago bikes.