Stolen Bike Recovery!

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the theft
of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people understood. They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that
they would do anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the
goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call me if the kid brought the bike in
for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called the police and
explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where they were stalling the kid by offering
free services for the bike. After a long waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that
I am the genuine owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
purdy, find new decals for it, and convert it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown
to replace this geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho money into it
for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some spacers and a
bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a new chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

Unfrigginbelievable! Now how will we celebrate this first in stolen bike recovery?

-JM

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 23:55:01 -0700, John Morgan did issue forth:

> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

Blimey!

Congratulations, Sir. Here's hoping the two of you are very happy now that you are together again.

Huw "Had my bike nicked once. Bastards." Pritchard

John Morgan <jhnmorgan@NOSPAMcox.net> wrote in message news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...
> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.
>
> The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
> foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
> spotted him). These people
understood.
> They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
> thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
> employees promised to call me
if
> the kid brought the bike in for service again.
>
> The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called
the
> police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where
they
> were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a
long
> waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the
genuine
> owner of the bike.
>
> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra
Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.
>
> The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
> severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
> purdy, find new decals for it, and
convert
> it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
> seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
money
> into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
> spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a
new
> chain and brake cables are in order as well.
>
> -John Morgan

Nice one! Why'd the bastard not get charged then?!?!?!?!

"John Morgan" <jhnmorgan@NOSPAMcox.net> wrote in message news:<%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06>...
> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.
>
> The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
> foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
> spotted him). These people understood. They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that
> they would do anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the
> goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call me if the kid brought the bike
> in for service again.
>
> The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called the police
> and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where they were stalling the kid by
> offering free services for the bike. After a long waiting period and much discussion, the it was
> decided that I am the genuine owner of the bike.
>
> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.
>
> The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
> severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice
> and purdy, find new decals for it, and convert it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the
> Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
> money into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get
> some spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a new chain and brake cables are in order
> as well.
>
> -John Morgan

That's a wonderful end to the story! It's just to bad the idiot didn't get cited, and to bad you
didn't get a chance to take a good crack at him yourself!

> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.
>
> The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
> foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
> spotted him). These people
understood.
> They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
> thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
> employees promised to call me
if
> the kid brought the bike in for service again.
>
> The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called
the
> police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where
they
> were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a
long
> waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the
genuine
> owner of the bike.
>
> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra
Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.
>
> The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
> severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
> purdy, find new decals for it, and
convert
> it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
> seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
money
> into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
> spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a
new
> chain and brake cables are in order as well.
>
> -John Morgan

*sigh*

You were lucky...

When my first 'proper' bike (Klein pulse comp) got stolen 2 years ago, I never saw her again my
pride and joy probably got sold for smack by some dickless motherfck. I cried more for the loss of
that bike than the death of my grandmother.

My mate's ride almost got stolen the other day, while he was on it no less. This fcking townie came
up to him asking how much it was. my mate ignored him and then the little bastard tried to take it
from under him. He got away ok unfortunately not having the time to beat the living **** out of said
wannabe thief.

People who steal bikes deserve death.

Small Black (feeling strongly about bike theft) Dog

SBD says:

>*sigh*
>
>You were lucky...

No sh*t! My first road bike, a nice chrome-plated Carlton, was nicked from the office in Willesden
(NW London). This caused no end of problems as it was my transport at the time. The next day, I
walked down to the LBS nearby to see if they'd keep an eye out (they had seen the bike a few times
before) and ther, in the window of the shop, was my baby. Complete with a little sign saying "Is
this yours, Steve?" The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known locally,
and tried to sell it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn. Bad move...

Steve

"John Morgan" <jhnmorgan@NOSPAMcox.net> wrote in message news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...
> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.
>
> The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
> foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
> spotted him). These people
understood.
> They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
> thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
> employees promised to call me
if
> the kid brought the bike in for service again.
>
> The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called
the
> police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where
they
> were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a
long
> waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the
genuine
> owner of the bike.
>
> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra
Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.
>
> The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
> severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
> purdy, find new decals for it, and
convert
> it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
> seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
money
> into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
> spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a
new
> chain and brake cables are in order as well.
>
> -John Morgan
>
>
>
>

So how you liking that wide ass seat?

Stephen Baker <saildesign@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20030704104259.15440.00000134@mb-m06.aol.com...
> SBD says:
>
> >*sigh*
> >
> >You were lucky...
>
> No sh*t! My first road bike, a nice chrome-plated Carlton, was nicked
from the
> office in Willesden (NW London). This caused no end of problems as it was
my
> transport at the time. The next day, I walked down to the LBS nearby to
see if
> they'd keep an eye out (they had seen the bike a few times before) and
ther, in
> the window of the shop, was my baby. Complete with a little sign saying
"Is
> this yours, Steve?" The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known
locally,
> and tried to sell it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn.
Bad
> move...
>
> Steve

Hell fire! Nice one ',;~}~

Shaun aRe

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 23:55:01 -0700, John Morgan wrote:

> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

That is so excellent.

> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

Maybe you'll see him around town when you just happen to be carrying a tire iron.

gabrielle

On Fri, 04 Jul 2003 07:42:59 -0700, Stephen Baker wrote:

> The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known locally, and tried to sell
> it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn. Bad move...

So did they kick his ass or what?

Some numbskull stole one of Mr Gabrielle's custom kayaks (a squirt boat, if any of you are boaters
and remember those) and then was dumb enough to take it out to the local surf spot. Oopsie.

gabrielle

> Nice one! Why'd the bastard not get charged then?!?!?!?!
>

I guess the cops couldn't prove he was the actual thief. It's been 16 months, it could have changed
hands a few times by now. He stuck to his story "I found it in an alley." Being the forgiving person
that I am, I let it go at that. I was just grateful to get back what's mine.

-John Morgan

> So how you liking that wide ass seat?
>

LOL! Funny you should mention that. The thief's called his dad when I said the cops were on the way.
After the issue was resolved, the father told me that my original seat and my Time pedals were at
his house. And he wanted to swap out the wide seat and cruiser-bike pedals for my original gear.
Score! Seeing as how they were so cooperative with this, I doubt they had anything to do with the
theft. I'm going over there in a few minutes to pick up my stuff.

-John Morgan

> Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
> theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.
>
> The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
> foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
> spotted him). These people understood. They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that
> they would do anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the
> goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call me if the kid brought the bike
> in for service again.
>
> The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called the police
> and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where they were stalling the kid by
> offering free services for the bike. After a long waiting period and much discussion, the it was
> decided that I am the genuine owner of the bike.
>
> The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
> Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.
>
> The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
> severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice
> and purdy, find new decals for it, and convert it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the
> Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
> money into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get
> some spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a new chain and brake cables are in order
> as well.
>
> -John Morgan

That soooo kicks ass!!!! Right-on!

--
Slacker - once recovered my stolen wetsuit in a similar manner

"John Morgan" <jhnmorgan@NOSPAMcox.net> wrote in message news:dnhNa.88087$%42.57544@fed1read06...
> > So how you liking that wide ass seat?
> >
>
> LOL! Funny you should mention that. The thief's called his dad when I
said
> the cops were on the way. After the issue was resolved, the father told
me
> that my original seat and my Time pedals were at his house. And he wanted to swap out the wide
> seat and cruiser-bike pedals for my original gear. Score! Seeing as how they were so cooperative
> with this, I doubt they had anything to do with the theft. I'm going over there in a few minutes
> to pick up my stuff.
>
> -John Morgan
>
>

What was his story? Did he claim to have bought it from someone else? How old was this kid? I
dunno... I would think a kid like that, running a wide seat and cruiser pedals would have gone for
the Murra or Huffy type....

I wasn't there but I am a tad suspicious.

Any how congrats! Wish I could get mine back...