Dear So and So

[rebeccaC]

Sharon....the emotions connected to a theft aren’t fun to go through. I had a bike stolen when I was in college and for a couple of days I had thoughts ranging from wanting to stab the thief in the liver to just hoping they take good care of the bike I spent so much time and savings to build up to be exactly what I wanted/needed. Be thankful you have insurance coverage and can get a new bike soon!!!!! It took me too long a time to save the money to build up a good replacement for my brevet addiction at the time.

I have a hidden gps/gms tracker on my seven and waterford so if a thief can actually get past the lock that can help in finding them.

[salsabike]

I have a hidden gps/gms tracker on my seven and waterford so if a thief can actually get past the lock that can help in finding them.

Rebecca--can you tell us a little more about this? Sounds interesting.

[azfiddle]

I'd like to know about the gps tracker too.

[azfiddle]

Dear Allstate claims agent:

Thank you so much for all you did to get my claim settled so quickly, and for explaining to the adjustors that cycling was so important to me so that they agreed to send the full replacement amount up front. I am starting to get excited about a new bike!

[salsabike]

Wow! That is amazing.

[Pax]

An insurance company doing the right thing??? Kinda blows my mind.

[Eden]

An insurance company doing the right thing??? Kinda blows my mind.

Gotta say Allstate does seem to be OK… I got rear ended (not seriously thankfully) a couple of months ago and the person who hit me had them for insurance. I've had zero hassles with the claim. They made it very easy.

[azfiddle]

I am tempted to just go with another Specialized Ruby because I know it fits me. My stolen bike was a 44cm. I went to the Trek store yesterday where my friend works and he put me on a 47 to try (on a trainer). We moved the seat as far forward as possible and swapped out the 90 mm stem for a 70 stem and I still felt like I wanted to be slightly further forward. That said, I rode a 47 cm Trek Lexa in Ireland for 10 days and it was set up according to the measurements from my bike fit on the Ruby- and it felt right from the start.

So I may take a look at a few other bikes - but no one ever has 44 cm frames in stock for me to try

[azfiddle]

Thanks- that link was quite interesting- the comparison chart especially.

[OakLeaf]

I've had very positive claims experiences with Allstate also, both moto and car. But, several years after my last claim (long enough that I was confident that wasn't the reason, it was just the customer churn that insurance companies like to do), they jacked my premiums up so high I really had no choice but to switch. I could've bought a new bike (motorized or non) just with what I've saved in premiums. Progressive has a good reputation, but I was and still am nervous about switching to a company that I don't have any claims experience with.

Anyway it sucks it had to happen, but enjoy the bike shopping.

[rebeccaC]

Rebecca--can you tell us a little more about this? Sounds interesting.

I'd like to know about the gps tracker too.

just saw this....I use a tracker called Spybike. It’s made in the U. K. and I bought it last year in France. It fits into the steerer tube so you can’t tell it’s on the bike. Using a sim card it also communicates with your phone for configuration, movement warnings, battery levels etc. They were going to release one that fits inside a seat post. Don’t know if they have yet. It did take me awhile to figure out the best configuration. I only have to charge the lithium battery every two months+ to keep me in the range of 4-5 months of battery use. I’ve done test tracks a couple of times on rides into the santa monica mountains, to my office and back home and to a friends house.


There is a Portland woman, Kris Akins, who is developing one called Bike Trak, which I heard will have one model designed to fit in the handlebars. It will probably be a good one according to a friend in Portland who knows about the development of it. Akins is also doing an app that will let police officers see a pop-up on their in-car computer or smartphones when a Bike Trak equipped bike registered as stolen is within 500 yards and can then help zero in on it.


Dear Michael

I prefer saying ‘independently owned and operated’ to your saying my marital status was ‘single looking for a husband’
Thankfully…no, make that I’m grateful….this contract is now FINISHED…….

YAY