Last year my trusted steed, Giant FCR 1 was stolen while on a camping trip. That bike got me through two centuries and countless miles of training. I was saddened by the loss. Meantime I found a Giant Rapid 2 at a decent price. I tried everything to get that bike to fit but finally realized perhaps it and I were a bad match. But I never stopped looking for an FCR. The magic occurred about 6 weeks ago while checking Craigslist I found a garaged FCR 1. I contacted the fella and made arrangements to see the bike. Offered at 300, he finally agreed to 150.00 as the FD was broken and I was not sure to what extent. Other then that issue, the bike was in pristine shape. I took off the flat bars and put on an extra bar I had laying around with a bit more rise and sweep. It was love at first ride.


Finally figured out the pic thing...


Nothing better then a bike that fits you like a glove!!!!!

Great story! Is the new one the same size as your old one?

Also, PICS OR IT DIDNT HAPPEN!!

same size!!!!


got the pic but getting an error message when I attempt a download.

That is a great story -- seriously! I know we've just exchanged comments over on General Cycling, but if you can disregard my warped sense of humour ... I know exactly what you mean about the right bike 'for me' etc.

Always liked the FCRs; didn't like their successors the Rapid series all that much, although I'm curious to see the new Rapid series -- are you in Canada (they're not available in the U.S., I think)?

At any rate ... great story!

Yes, well done stoplight. I'm still searching almost daily for a late 90's mtb in a certain size, I have one I recently rebuilt but want a spare. You can never have too many of the perfect for you type of bike.

Awesome. I love a great find.

Also, I hate bike thieves. Like really hate. As in would happily torture one until he cried for his mother.

Yup. I have such distrust for the public, I've never even owned a bike lock. I never ever take my bike to a place somewhere where I have to leave it. I do rides for fitness/fun and then come home. That's it.

I would love to be able to ride to friends places but if a thief would steal a $50 bike, of course they would try to take my $600 trek.... yes I'm paranoid. Not afraid to admit it freely. I hear such sad stories of such nice bikes being stolen, it's terrible.

I'm with you. I wont even have my bike on the car rack without being locked in case someone tries stealing it at a red light. I've seen it happen.

Indeed!!!!! nice ride

Buddy and his friend go riding and stop by the local eatery for some grub after. Thule double bike rack with the standard cable locks. When they return, cables cut and the friends 6k Pivot is gone. Apparently the A holes hang out in the parking lot of this particular riding spot and follow riders out hoping they under secure their bikes while stopping for food or other errands.


I paid 150 for the new FCR I found. The kryptonite lock I purchased AFTER the original was stolen cost me 129.00. Piece of mind!!!!

Ughhhhh.... I can't even imagine what I would do in that case... I would be out for blood!

I've seen posts/Craigslist ads sometimes of people's extremely expensive bikes being stolen off the street of some large cities - Chicago, NYC, etc. I cannot imagine locking up a $5k asset with any type of lock! If I had 5 kryptonite locks I still would not lock up such an expensive bike on the street..... again, I'm super paranoid all it takes is a cordless drill to drill into where the key goes on a lock and within a minute or two any lock is broken.

Ps - sorry to thread jack but it's nice to see other people with the same mindset as me re: locking bikes outside. It stinks that we have to think like this but the world is how it is....

I have a 3' length of 3/8" hardened security chain, and a Brinks commercial padlock. It's quite heavy in the backpack, and it's not foolproof, but it's going to take someone a bit of time to get through it. I can't imagine locking up a $6K bike with a cable lock.

We forget how quickly a bike can be stolen I guess. When I pull into a parking lot after a ride I look for other bikes unsecured and under secured and park next to or near them and then lock up my bike with the Kryptonite. Path of least resistance will have the thief picking those other bikes.