My bike was stolen!

[Trek420]

Ooh, setting a trap...I LOVE this!

If I was doing that I'd write it so it does not sound like you know too much. The less jargon the better. Heh heh heh. I'll be heading out to run a few errands and may stop at the local hardware store that I suspect used to operate as a "bike chop shop". New owners, I don't think they do that anymore but won't hurt to see if they are reverting to old habits.

Eden Bicycles in Castro Valley has told their wrenches and is keeping an eye out.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My home owners insurance covers all my documented possessions (including my bikes, and my expensive musical instruments) that might get damaged or stolen.... UNLESS they are stolen when left in a car.

[SLash]

I don't know if this has already been suggested, but how about if each of us checks their area on Craigslist to see if a bike like yours is listed for sale. We should continue to check back too.

What do ya'll think?

* I edited my original post which said basically what it says now plus that we should all check our areas and that I would check Oklahoma (and Tri Girl too). I got to thinking about it and thought maybe it was overkill since chances are the bike wouldn't have made it this far or further east. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to check everywhere. I just checked OKC and nothing, although I did see some nice bikes for sell. Great! Now I'll probably end up with another bike.

[Tri Girl]

sounds good to me! I'd be happy to keep an eye out for it.

[Owlie]

That sucks. I'm sorry.

[channlluv]

Not to start a litany of "not here" posts, but there's nothing about Merckx or a red, white, and blue bike on the San Diego Craigslist.

Roxy

[Trek420]

I don't know if this has already been suggested, but how about if each of us checks their area on Craigslist to see if a bike like yours is listed for sale. We should continue to check back too.

What do ya'll think?

Good idea!

[Martha716]

I had my Trek 7.6 stolen only a couple of months ago. I was really very upset for weeks. Even now, I hate to think of it. I blame myself for not having used better locks even though it was on a busy street in the middle of day.

I finally bought myself a Giant -- a road bike rather than a hybrid -- because I could not quite bear to get the exact same bike again. Don't know why. Anyway, I like the Giant but I wish I had my FX, too.

You will feel better after awhile. It takes some time, however!

[Trek420]

+1 and a hearty welcome to TE, Martha716. I replaced my namesake Trek 420 with a waaaaaay "better" bike (all bikes are great bikes) going from Trek's entry level bottom of the barrel to full custom hand-built. I miss my bike and still somehow wish I would find her. Our bikes become part of us. Sometimes, especially when tired on a ride I reach for those down tube shifters.

Posted an alert to the ALC community: 2500 riders, 800 crew, countless veteran riders and crew all looking for your bike. Still hoping for a happy ending .... right after you get a replacement via insurance.

[maillotpois]

Thanks for all the help, guys!

Lisa - the car was in our carport at home. I don't know if that makes a difference. (Our auto and homeowners is all with the same people, and I would hope there's overlap so if something was stolen out of my car it would be covered one way or the other. Anyway, they have not yet mentioned that as an issue and I will double check the policy form.)

[NbyNW]

I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist for your bike . . . I've never stopped looking for mine, and it's been two years.

Still hoping for a happy ending .... right after you get a replacement via insurance.

Ah, but after filing my claim my insurance company also included in the final paperwork that if the stolen bike ever turns up, that they now own a financial interest in it . . . . not sure exactly what they meant by that -- whether I would have to pay them back for the replacement bike or whether they now consider themselves owners of the stolen bike and that I would have to pay them for its appraised value.

That said, I guess that would strictly depend on me doing the right thing and letting them know if the bike ever turns up.

Other downsides to filing an insurance claim, and this will vary according to your policy, location and personal situation: 1) our premium went up, and 2) when getting quotes for insurance on our new place, one very reputable company actually turned us down because we had filed a claim in the last 5 years.

Basically there are a few things to weigh as to whether it's worth filing a claim or whether you feel your pocketbook should take the hit. i.e., if I had known we would be moving in two years and a "little" thing like a stolen property claim would be held against me, I might have made a different decision.

[indysteel]

Sarah,

I am so, so sorry about your beloved bike. I hope it somehow turns up. In the very least, I hope you find a worthy replacement. You're one of my cycling inspirations on TE; it pains me to think of you having something so dear stolen from you. (((((()))))).

[Grog]

I just found this:

http://craiglook.com/

It searches ALL craigslists at one time.

This is the search for merckx. It showed your stolen-bike alert.....

http://craiglook.com/all.html?q=merckx

[maillotpois]

Cool - thanks Grog!

[michelem]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this yet (I may have missed it), but I've heard that some thieves are pretty smart about this and hold on to the item for a few months before trying to sell, in hopes the police and original owner have given up looking on Craigs, etc.

Good luck to you.