Hello,

My beater bicycle was taken off my front porch last week (44th and Baltimore). It wasn't a super star bike as it was made up of all bike church parts, but the size was perfect for me and I put a fair amount of tuning into it so I'd love to get it back. Does anyone know of any likely pawnshops or other places to look in case someone snatched it to make $5?

Thanks,
Milan

maybe Firehouse Bikes.
I've sold trashpicked frames there before.
But then again I've seen them turn someone away for suspicion of trying to sell a stolen frame.

sorry to hear about your bike.

__________________
My restlessness is my nemesis.

If it's in any way distinctive, I have seen people occasionally have luck posting a 'stolen bike' ad to the philly craigslist bike section.

I really want to leave a beater bike on *my* porch that will catastrophically fail after a few feet of riding. Bike thieves need a beating.

I have read about many successful stolen-bike-spottings on craigslist. Like the previous poster mentioned, put an ad in craigslist describing the bike and the location where it was stolen. Offer a small reward. post a picture if possible. I especially love the descriptions of how people grab a stolen bike when it has been spotted and won't let the thief or purchaser of stolen goods ride off so that the cops can show up. it seems like many of them opt to run away at that time.

in the future, it is very advisable to make your bike look unique. Do something distinguishable to it and make sure your name and phone number is on the bike in many places. mine is under the seat, on the bottom of the frame where the crank is, inside the front fork.


good luck. i hope you get it back.

Well the bike does stand out now... It's a big cannondale frame spray painted bright blue with pink Bike Works cables. Street/mountain bike tires and a yellow headstock. Unfortunately, no pictures.

yes, that does stand out.
i will keep an eye our for it.
if i see it i will call the police.
Do you have a serial number for the bike?

Happy ending,

My bike is back, my bike is back, my bike, my bike, is back, back, back.

After a family trip to Tinicum yesterday from 44th, I was hating my fill-in, too-small, wife's bike, which also got a flat tire.

So today Bob Kamzelski, of Bilenky Bikeworks, knocked on my door and I said, "hey Bob, what, did you find my bike (ha, ha)". So he said, "yeah, how'd you know, some cat just rode by me on Baltimore five minutes ago", and I startled him by saying, "hop in the car and let's go", not really expecting to be able to find the guy, because maybe he turned off of Baltimore, you know. So we go 50 yards to the end of 44th street and there is my darling bicycle leaning against the HMS wall, just sitting there.

I think, "oh the guy just left it there". I wish I'd thought, "oh, there it is, I should stake it out in the car and wait for the guy to come back".

A guy might have come back for it, but Bob couldn't tell if he was the one he'd seen on the bike, and we didn't play it cool enough to trick him into hopping back on.

Anyway, I am pleased as punch and hope I don't lose her again.

Thanks for all the extra eyes.

Love,
Milan

Awesome story, but just so you know, in my own mental-edit, you gave the thief a black eye.

This is awesome news!

In MY own mental-edit the thief was sent to Guantanamo and questioned about other bicycle thefts.

Yeah, I do regret not being able to nab the fellow on it, but then again - who's to say the same guy that stole it was riding it. Wildly foolish to park it across the street from where you stole it.