The final straw

[Spudly]

If it came down to that then there are plenty of us local that im sure could/would volunteer!
Myself, chrisv40, fluffychicken, DanD, kingoffootball, plus a load of regulars that we all know very well!
The only downside to that is that I dont think Ken has met any/many of us, so although its a nice thought to have someone look after his bike so it doesnt get taken, from his point of view it would be in the hands of a total stranger :-(

 

[KenG]

SlackAlice,I totally agree with what youre saying about Karma,I do believe that what goes around comes around and that one day the person that took my trusty friend will feel the gutwrenching disappointment,frustration and anger that I felt recently,as I stood in the garage looking at the spot where i used to park the Hahanna the moment i discovered it had gone it was a feeling of total helplessness, for a split second I didnt know what to do,was it really missing? had I moved outside for whatever reason? then of course the obvious, they'd come back to see what else they could rob me of,you see the Hahanna had been stood it that same spot the day they took my On One and now they'd reurned to take it.Your'e completely right when you called it a friend,it had been with me for thousands of miles,never missing a beat and although one of the more lowly models in the Kona range it was the one I would have chosen if I ever needed to cross the world.
Spudly, I've met one or two of the local Retrobikers in passing, time being the reason I dont see them more as I work two jobs, my first is shifts 6-2 and 2-10 and I'm also a Driving instructor when not doing that job, so I'm usually up from 4.30am in a morning on earlies ( this week) returning home at approx 9.00pm after instructing and instructing from 9am until going to work at 2 until 10.30pm on lates,so as you can see time is also at a premium with me.Although I've only met one or two I'd have no hesitation in letting them babysit my Explosif as their characters shine on this very forum,simply by seeing their posts you can see they are decent people, the only problem I'd have is as I'm now going to use it as my main ride to work, hopefully stepping into the shoes of the Hahanna,and they'll take a lot of filling,I'd need access to it every day.

 

[Spudly]

Hi Ken, i can understand that, i had offers of storage for my 'weekend' car when i decided to sell it, and obviously access to it wouldve been the greatest of issues, i think using it as a commuter (provided you know where it is going to be stored is secure) is the best option, even if they do come back for it, they cannot take it if it is not there!

Hopefully they will return and see there are no bikes left to take and then will simply not bother in the future, ill still be keeping my eyes and ears open to see if i spot it, ill hold on to hope that it can be recovered for you though, and like i say if you do decide for whatever reason you need it babysitting, then there are plenty of people locally that im sure will be willing, myself included!

And now the weather is turning nice again, any time youre free, youre more than welcome to join us on local rides, maybe if we're lucky we can save your passion, even if we might not be able to recover your trusty steed!

 

[KenG]

Hi Spudly
Thanks for the offer,if I do get any spare time (probably when the kids are grown up and I've stopped taxi'ing them around) you may well see me turn up.

 

[dirttorpedo]

This thread really makes me sad. I really hope you don't sell the bike Ken and can figure out a way to secure the bike and continue to enjoy the sport.

 

[KenG]

Thanks dirttorpedo
I'm actually sat here now looking at what I need to convert the Explosif to commuting duties, I already have the Michelin road tyres and new set of lights, I've bought an Oddysey seatbolt off a member on here to replace the XT quick release and I'm sort of looking forward to getting back in the saddle as I've not ridden at all this week and really miss it, usually I ride to work everyday without fail. A part of me wonders though if the Explosif is wasted on commuting, saying that my Hahanna revelled in it, I've never owned a road bike always having mountain bikes, as I love the stretched out feeling ,I think I'd be too hunched up on a road bike.
Maybe getting the Explosif finished and getting back in the saddle may make me feel better.

 

[jimo746]

Don't give up the cycling, or it will seem like the thieving scum have won, and you don't want that.
Step up the security, downsize to one bike, do what you have to, but keep cycling for work, for enjoyment, for fitness and for health.

 

[dirttorpedo]

I have both road bikes and mountain bikes and I find that you can mather either stretched or compact/cramped depending on how you set it up (i.e. stem length) and the the peculiarities of the various frame designs and styles. I find my vintage road bike more roomy in the cockpit than my Zaskar in its old configuration and probably a little less roomy than my Rockey Mountain Hammer.

Personally, I wouldn't want to subject the Explosif to the harsh conditions and wear of daily commuting. A Hahanna or a clapped out Lava Dome or their equivalents - sure. The Explosif is something special IMHO. Maybe you can find a cheap used basic mountain bike to use as the daily commuter.

 

[incorrigible]

If it came down to that then there are plenty of us local that im sure could/would volunteer!
Myself, chrisv40, fluffychicken, DanD, kingoffootball, plus a load of regulars that we all know very well!(

It appears that the guest list for the Inaugural Retrobike Security Party is taking shape! Bravo!

I wonder if the thieves' parents are as busy as KenG seems to be, and either don't know or don't care what their sons are up to when they're not around. How many stolen bikes can accumulate before someone takes notice? A good parent would take notice and have questions for their child.

KenG, is there some sort of locally accepted bulletin board or method of posting a lost-and-found notice in your neighborhood? If so, just like a lost pet, can you post pictures of a stolen bike in the hopes that a responsible parent might see that notice, perform their own in-house investigation, potentially find that exact bike behind their mostly unused shed, and feel compelled to take action? Some of your local businesses might be willing to let you post a Stolen Bike flyer with your phone number on it. If you have a cellphone, just let people call and leave a voicemail. If any of the calls are prank calls, you can forward that info to the authorities as well, including the phone number of the caller. You could offer a reward, but I suspect a responsible parent would be mortified if it was their son who had your bike and would turn down any reward you would offer.

I maintain that it wouldn't be too difficult to do a bit of sleuthing around your own neighborhood now and again when you have a spare moment. The thieves are just kids and thus likely don't have access to a car, so how far would they typically roam? I'm betting that they live within a quarter mile from you, and that once you have an idea of who they might be, that information alone might be of use to the local authorities should yet another theft take place. In my mind, any group of 3 young men that habitually assemble and typically wear hoodies living within a quarter mile (half mile at the most) radius are prime suspects. It's even possible that they're nearby neighbors of yours and that you already know of them.

 

[KenG]

Hi
Just like to say a big thanks to everyone who posted here, it was very much appreciated at a time when I needed it most, good people on here, good, good people.