I have this Pure Fix that I ride about 80 miles a week
It got stolen off my front porch
5 days later my wife driving home through
side streets saw my bike leaning against a house
about a mile and half from my house
I went and took it back
with people from the house watching me
anyway the bike had a twisted gooseneck
2 flat tires where he hit a curb or something
he obviously didnt know about fixed gear bikes
fell and fell hard
my bottle cage was bent up
the brake caliper was bent where it hit the frame
when the fork twisted
so I am assuming the bike kicked his butt lol
I got it all back right and rode it 20 miles last night
by the way the bike was found in a neigbor hood
of 250 to 400 thousand dollar houses

You gotta get outta the hood man.

Sux. I might have had the cops meet me at that house. Could prevent future trouble.

What's a gooseneck?

Hey Joe, do you know where St. Clair ends downtown, in the flats? That reeeal steep hill, where at the end are railroad tracks? My first year in Cleveland, I pulled a rookie move and left my bike leaning against a building I was delivering to(the office was just inside the door, so I was only in for a second) and came out to see some guy hauling ass down St. Clair on my 80's Fuji track bike. He was riding it like a champ too, but I called my messenger buddies on the radio, and they caught up with him, at the bottom of the St. Clair hill. Dude couldn't stop and was a mess at the bottom. Bent one pedal, but that's all. I didn't even pummel him. I felt bad for him, and actually for the next few years after that, whenever I saw him we were pretty amicable. He was lucky. We beat the crap outta a few bike thieves in the future years after that.

Perhaps.

The bike could well have been abandoned... And, it wouldn't be surprising if one of the other houses in the neighborhood where you found the bike was missing a bike from the front porch.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to inform the police that you are retrieving your stolen property, and not stealing the bike, or coming back for your bike after stealing and riding off on another.

OMG, both you guys are as forgiving as Christ! In the same situation my only question would be:
Cops or .38spl???

Wait!.....a stem, right?

250-400k houses? That would be a bargain from the parts I come from.

As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Keep it indoors.

Haha yeah, I can't help it man, I have a streak of compassion. I grew up in foster homes and I volunteer in a children's shelter, so it's hard for me to act without compassion. I guess it'd be different if the guy was decked out in expensive clothes etc, but he was a regular homeless guy. I mean, I don't think it's "ok" to steal peoples stuff, but I didn't think an ass whipping would've done anything good for either of us.

I didnt tell the whole story, there was a man outside, I told him it was my bike and I am going to take it, that I didnt want to get anyone in trouble, but if anyone would give me hardtime about taking the bike I would call 911. He didnt protest or make any excuses.
The lady of the house came out and didnt say a thing just watched me take the bike.

I am assuming he was a kid that has friends on my street, I live on a culdesac, and there is no through traffic, you would only go on my street cause you are going to a house on it.

I live in an intergrated area and would not want to involve a black teen with the police if i didnt have too.

Ok, who still has a 38.... Get with the times... 9mm!!!

-

Old guys....I upgraded once: I'm not using black powder anymore. Besides, I hear .40 S&W is the new 9.

I love the S&W 659 .9mm or the Beretta .40, for keepers. A snubnose .38 is a good gutshot throwaway, though, if you needed such a thing.....

Howeee, you're smart and compassionate, to boot. Betcher an old guy and seen a few things.

I wouldn't wanna involve ANY teen with the cops if I didn't have to. Cops seldom make things better.

Quill stem only

That'd get you like a room here lol

Hmmm....

Hard to say what I would have done. It sounds like there was at least $50 to $100 worth of damage to the bike. I might expect them to pay for the damages. But then again, I can fix many things... so the repairs may be quick.

Then again, theft is serious, and in this case, they were caught "red handed" with the bike, although, in a week it could have passed through a half a dozen hands.

Did you see bruises on the kid to match the bruises on the bike?

I am 62, thanks for the compliment

I am an amateur bike mechanic, so I had to replace a multiple tool that I didnt get back, 2 tubes. pump and will have to buy a pouch for under the seat that was missing. So yea about 60 bucks, If I couldnt do the work myself it would of cost much more and yea I am a vintage Schwinn mechanic so I call a handlebar stem a "gooseneck" lol

No the kid didnt come out but I assume he wrecked the bike right away, walked it home left it next to his house and had noway to fix it.

I like riding the bike so am happy to have it back, and wont leave any bike on my front porch like I have for years.

I love that movie (-:

Yeah. The moment the kid sees his dad steal the bike is one of the greatest, heartbreakingest images ever. That movie is about what it is to live and to suffer as a man.

The POW who stole a bike in The Great Escape was one of only three who made it to freedom.

And if you're real lucky you'd get a window.