A request for Washington and Oregon cyclists

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Messages 1 - 22 of total 22 in this topic
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 12, 2012 - 12:52am PT
My bike was stolen yesterday in Seattle. I'll be doing the usual things -- file a police report, keep an eye on Craigslist for Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, but if any of you spot a "Bike for Sale" ad offering a red Bianchi Eros road bike, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Looks like this:

And since somebody is bound to ask, yes, it was locked. It was in a downtown Seattle parking garage, in an area that's well lit and quite visible. But it turns out that a quarter-inch steel cable is no match for someone who's quick with a bolt-cutter.
MisterE

Social climber
Dec 12, 2012 - 12:58am PT
Sorry to hear about this Ghost - losing your bike sucks.

Hope the locals rally and you get it back.
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
Dec 12, 2012 - 01:00am PT
This sucks dude! Good luck with getting it back!
froodish

Social climber
Portland, Oregon
Dec 12, 2012 - 01:41am PT
Bummer. I'll keep an eye out on craigslist here in stumptown.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Dec 12, 2012 - 02:26am PT
Man, that pisses me off to no end.
I wish I could talk Vinny into going north for you.
rockermike

Trad climber
Berkeley
Dec 12, 2012 - 02:52am PT
Foot long bolt cutters tucked into a laptop bag means less than ten seconds to ride off with your bike. You can cut a 1/4" cable in less time than it takes to unlock. The mid- range u-locks take 5 minutes with a hack saw, or a three foot long bolt cutter. They say the "new York" u-lock takes a blow torch. Ymmv
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Dec 12, 2012 - 02:52am PT
Sorry to hear that Ghost, hope u get it back. Place a Craigslist ad under wanted to buy for a similar bike in a town close to yours. It's a long shot but its free & takes as long as an ST post. Maybe they will bring it back?? All kinds of thiefs selling sh#t on there, gotta be a few browsing.

Getting your stuff stolen is the worst.

Good luck.
sportcamper

Trad climber
seattle
Dec 12, 2012 - 03:13am PT
Heading back home to Seattle tomor- will def keep an eye open for it! Too much of this has been happening around here recently
shipoopoi

Big Wall climber
oakland
Dec 12, 2012 - 03:22am PT
Ghost, that's sucks, the red biachi sounds like a faithful companion. miracles can happen, maybe it will come back to you. ss
Googlymoogly

climber
Dec 12, 2012 - 03:40am PT
Unfortunately locks are basically just deterrents. I remember when it came out that some of those super secure key bike locks could be opened by pushing a BIC pen in far enough to mold to the inside. I hope you get it back and that the thief pays the price
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 12, 2012 - 03:48am PT
Thanks to all.

I doubt that I'll get it back, but there's always a chance, so I thought I'd try.

Having my bike stolen provoked a much more visceral reaction than having my car stolen. The car? Well, who knows? Maybe somebody needed it. Or someone was drunk enough to think he needed it. I expected I'd get it back, and I did.

But the bike? Nobody stole that out of any need for a bike. It was a professional thief taking it strictly for the money, and that's pretty low.
Srbphoto

climber
Kennewick wa
Dec 12, 2012 - 08:28am PT
I actually check craigslist 4 or 5 times a week for old bikes and parts here in Eastern Washington. I will definitely have an eye out for you.
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
Nevada City
Dec 12, 2012 - 11:48am PT
shit happens so fast. i recall walking in downtown SF one day. all the traffic was stopped at the stop light and this dude pulls his car over super quickly, hops out with bolt cutters, clips this bike off a pole on the side of the road, stuffs the bike in his car and proceeds to pull his car back into traffic and take off right as the light changed. this was like 1pm middle of the day right out front of hastings law college. soo quick i didnt even have time to get the celly out to snap one of his license plate.
fear

Ice climber
hartford, ct
Dec 12, 2012 - 11:53am PT
That does suck!

But for your next bike.. Don't use a cable. The "New York" Kryptonite chain and lock are a better bet although very heavy. Still not going to stop an angle-grinder but you can't just snip a link with regular bolt-cutters (I've tried).

But even then.. it just slows 'em down
Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
Dec 12, 2012 - 12:04pm PT
Ghost - I feel your pain. Getting your bike stolen is about as low as it gets.

Here's an oldie but goodie to cheer you up:

Sredni Vashtar

Social climber
The coastal redwoods
Dec 12, 2012 - 12:06pm PT
sincerely wish you good luck retrieving it, i have felt the bike theft pain a few times.

London has gotten crazy bad for bike theft since you could buy cordless dremels and grinders cheap, no lock lasts more than a minute or so against a determined scumbag
rockermike

Trad climber
Berkeley
Dec 12, 2012 - 12:27pm PT
one thing to keep in mind, if you are commuting you can always leave a 20 lb lock at your destination. Don't have to always carry it. Taking in the front wheel is also probably helpful. Then even if they cut the lock they can't ride away.

That video is something. But the guy looks so clean cut. Who would imagine him as a thief. lol We lost the key to a friends bike once, locked up at the University of Washington campus. So we did the hacksaw thing (didn't have bolt cutters). Five minutes later we had the bike free and no one even stopped to ask what was going on. sometimes the audacity alone will make people presume you are legit.
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Dec 12, 2012 - 03:40pm PT
Best

Beautiful

Bike

Bump

Always sad to see a theft like this, hope you get it back.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 12, 2012 - 05:10pm PT
In the off chance that someone sees this model bike for sale, what size is it? What type of pedals? What kind of tires? Any aftermarket parts to ID it by?
froodish

Social climber
Portland, Oregon
Dec 13, 2012 - 10:16pm PT
Bump for Ghost's bike.
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Jan 10, 2013 - 10:23pm PT
Seemed appropo...hope ya got yer bike back bump we didn't forget.


Damned thieves don't deserve it.
Mr Roy

climber
Seattle
Jan 10, 2013 - 11:36pm PT
That sucks Ghost.
There has been a lot of break-ins and stuff stolen here in Georgetown lately. My truck was broken into 3 times & my buddy's license plate was stolen & the cops found it on another car in Burien.
Messages 1 - 22 of total 22 in this topic
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