Okay, I'm about to make the posting I never thought I'd have to make...

My bicycle, Purple Rain, was stolen from out front of my house last evening. I put it out a few minutes before heading out and it got nabbed. I'm too heartbroken to even be upset. If it comes back, that would be excellent, if not I will make a copy of it.

Here is a picture:


It is a Panasonic road frame 53 cm in purple with a sparkle coat.
-Mavic OP rims
-Michelin ProRace 2 tires
-Formula hubs
-Shimano 600 crankset
-Surly cog
-KMC Z Chain
-Selle San Marco Rolls Saddle


I am in NW Washington DC. I'm going to check the pawn shops and call the police. Please keep your eyes open. The bike is hard to miss and completely custom, so hard to hide as well. If anyone has any information, please let me know.

I'm going to mourn for a few days and then get started on recreating it. If anyone has the same parts or a 53 cm Panasonic frame, I'd be happy in buying them from you.

Thanks.

I remember a female forum member had her Bianchi stolen in DC awhile back and found it. If you are around...how did you go about getting it back?

I just called the police and filed a report.

I'm going to go to the pawn shops now. Is there a DC "bike kitchen" where it could end up? I really can't believe it got stolen, but I guess it was dumb of me to leave it unlocked outside even for a few minutes.

Thanks for any help any of you can offer.

the bianchi was listed on ebay by a pawn shop that was fencing bikes

good luck finding big purp

your best bet is taking fliers in to all the pawn shops with all your contact info, picture and description of the bike etc. that way if it slows up down the road theyve got all your info and everything

i think you just came into City Bikes to leave a notice for it. Well keep our eyes PEELED.

That's kind of you. Kind of disturbing.

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I was just in City Bikes so you did see me/meet me there. I'd really appreciate it if people would keep their eyes and ears open. I passed out fliers all over DC to cyclists, at bars, and at bike and pawn shops. I'm confident I'll get it back.

If anyone sees it I'd really appreciate it if you helped me get it back. You will be kindly rewarded.

Thanks.

ryan

Im originally from DC/VA area, but my friend is about to move from Springfield to Howard U area, with his fixie. Right now he uses a small Ulock, and a coil lock to lock up. I advised him to get a big chain from On-guard, or wherever for living in DC. He says the bikes beat up so it won't matter. But I told him that a good lock is the difference b/w him riding his bike or someone else riding it. Besides big locks give bigger security.
Do you think his locks are enough, or that he should definitely get something bigger and stronger. I'll pass this thread along to him.

get as strong as possible. d.c. is in the top 5 worst cities for bike theft. if you dont lock your bike or lock it with a ****e lock it will get stolen. and summertime is one of the worst times for bike theft

Hi everyone,
I spent eight hours yesterday putting fliers out all over the city. I'm going to work on getting the word out to the messenger community today, since they know bikes and might be able to help.

Since many of us on here look at bikes, bike sites, and eBay it would be great if you folks could just be alert. I'm just thinking that it is going to have to turn up somewhere at some point.

Thanks.

And just to point out...that saddle is a Selle San Marco Rolls in baby blue with a white cross-check pattern. It has some thigh rub on the sides. I have only ever seen one other like it and someone on here has it. The saddle is impossible to miss, as the bike itself kind of is because it is not an off-the-peg whip.

Okay, I've really put fliers out all over the city, talked to a ton of messengers and DC riders and filed a police report. Is there any on here from Maryland that knows of shops in and around DC where it might have ended up? Or Virginia?

I was thinking of trying to fax them photos of the bike.

If anyone else has any suggestions I'd appreciate them. Otherwise I'm just going to keep on working, keep my eyes open, watching craigslist and eBay and keep my fingers crossed.

I reposted this on dcfixed.com

join that site, as a group we have recovered and returned quite a few stolen bikes.

any more information you can post on there about where you last saw it and other specifics can help.

also, go into the bike rack at 1412 q st and tell them.
(not sure if you did that or not yet)

CHECK THE PAWN SHOPS

Hey Ryan,

I stopped by the Bike Rack yesterday and gave them a flier with a picture, all the parts and specs and my information. I also visited all the pawn shops on 14th Street. Are there any others?

I just joined DCfixed.com the other day in order to post but been so busy out on the streets looking that didn't get around to posting there; thank you very much for posting.

Last seen Saturday night/Sunday morning at around quarter past midnight in Wesley Heights up near American University. Not many neighborhood kids around, not usually that much traffic or people around. Can't figure out if it was professional thieves or just a local kid.

I'll post more on DCfixed.com.

Thanks for your help, Ryan!

ryan

****ing lame! Hope you get your bike back Ryan!

Thanks, Andrew! I'm trying to keep in mind it was the experience of building it up...but it still makes me heartbroken.

We'll rise again

good luck bro

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!! Purple Rain is back in my hands! Incredible story - was out riding around yesterday and heading home in the afternoon. What do I see suddenly pull out in front of me a half block up? Purple Rain. Some guy with a guitar on his back is riding it. I nearly fainted but immediately caught up to him, got right alongside him and said, "Dude, that is my ******** bike! You need to get off of it right ******** now unless you want to get f*cked up!" I pulled in front of him so that he had to stop and got off and I grabbed it from him and walked away.

He said that he had bought it from Carlos at Revolution for $180. I told him I didn't care and that he knew a bike that nice would only be that cheap if it were stolen. I told him to get the f*ck away from me. I think he must have known it was stolen or else he would have put up more of a fight. I also think he must have bought it from the thief but not been the person who stole it.

I called the police to follow-up from the earlier report and they sent an office out immediately (crazy since it was the 4th for him to show so quickly). He took a report on the description of the rider and was heading to Revolution to investigate.

I'm wondering what happened though. Revolution doesn't sell used bikes. I wonder if they guy was just saying he worked at Revolution to the buyer so that he would sound legitimate?

Do you think I should go talk to the guys at Revolution about it? I'm just worried if "Carlos" knows I've got it back he might try to steal it again.

I'm riding another bike today so that I can let Purple Rain lay low for a bit in case the thieves want it back. But, since the thief got paid for it, they probably don't care. And the rider doesn't know where I lived. It is locked to a piece of furniture in my bedroom and I padlocked my bedroom door.

Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. This is the best July 4th gift I've ever gotten!

amazing! glad you got it back after all that work.

Wow! Congratulations on finding the bike!

revolution bikes does not sell used bikes and in my experience they have been nothing but professional.

if you talk to anyone about it, i'd talk to pinky (head mechanic and part owner) and let him deal with it. if one of his employees is selling hot bikes he needs to know about it. but again, i doubt that this is the case, i bet that dude stole the bike himself and just threw a name out.

Awesome! Congratulations Ryan and good on you for scaring the guy bad enough to give up the goods without a fight.

wooohhooo! good conclusion.

shoulda kicked his flowery, guitar-toting ass.

agreed, congrats on getting your baby back safe and sound.