Adam: Bike Thievery!

UPDATED BELOW

I recently went on a nice little trip to Canada via Amtrak train, and decided to get to the station via bike. I took my “backup bike,” a Trek MultiTrack I picked up at an anti-war garage sale for $20 to use while my main bike was in the shop. I locked it up to a sign with a medium-quality cable lock and nothing else, and wished it luck.

While I was in Canada, I imagine a pair of bolt cutters made quick work of the cable, and when I returned I was greeted with this sight:

It was only a $20 bike, and I was un-stranded by Rochester’s reasonable public transit system, so I’m not too saddened by the loss. I had added an odometer, bottle cage, and kickstand to the backup bike, but nothing fancy like a new seat or an array of lights. The lock and helmet actually had more sentimental value than the bike itself, but I’ll always have the memories behind them.

I figured the bike would make its way to some other city and I’d never see it again. However, this post on Craigslist gives me hope that we’ll soon be reunited:

Wish us luck.

UPDATE: Unfortunately for me, “backup bike” was sold to a new buyer this morning at R Community Bikes. The group doesn’t buy bikes, they only accept donations, which makes this story all the more puzzling. Did a bike thief have a change of heart? Who knows! More if it develops . . .

UPDATE 2: RUDY! says in the comments: “Ah, maybe your bike was removed for being illegally parked (is there such a law) and subsequently donated?”

I had the same thought. I’m trying to get a hold of the manager at the Amtrak office - I may have to drop by in person if Amtrak headquarters doesn’t give me the contact info. Before I parked my bike, I asked the staff on hand about where to put it, and they recommended that spot. Who would steal it and go through the trouble of donating it - an Amtrak groundskeeper? The city? The feds?