replacing stolen bike

Michael Libby said:

Someone stole my bike while I was at work! It was a two
month old 2003 Fuji League. First non-department store
bike I've ever bought, too. My prior theory has always
been to buy really cheap bikes in case they get swiped
(and sometimes I'm surprised at what people will steal--
maybe if stealing a bike was a serious crime like "Grand
Theft Bicycle", y'know, a felony).

Thankfully I can still ride a Schwinn cheapo mountain bike
I have (I don't drive a car-- just bike and bus), but I
know I'm going to be anxious to get back in the saddle of
something a bit more road-worthy soon.

Here's what initially drew me to the Fuji League: down
tube shifters, dropped handlebars, rack eyelets, fairly
light, the price. And after riding it, I really came to
like the firm, leather seat and think the League was a
darn good bike. Even the coloring was nice, black with
blue accents.

Because I have the backup bike and some time, I thought
maybe I'd ask around about what else might be a good
alternative to the Fuji League in that same < $400
price range.

I'm a bit shy on the 2004 Fuji Leagues, being all bright
red like they are, and I might be able to find another
2003 Fuji League in my size. But these bikes just kind of
look expensive, everyone kept telling me so. "ooh, what a
NICE bike!" And I always said "whatever, all the actually
nice bikes cost two and three times as much, but if you
say so..." I think all the pretty decals and the triple-
colored seat don't help much.

Obviously I'll be double-locking from now on (today's lock
was just a cable lock) and I maybe will look at plastering
some stickers on the new ride to make it look less "nice".
Or something! I'm certainly not going to let the next nice
book look nice, that's for sure.

So what other bikes should I consider with the features I
want (road bike with rack eyelets and down tube shifters)
and in the same price range? And what would I do if none
of the LBS don't have any in stock? Will shops normally
order stuff like that or what?

Thanks for your advice and suggestions.

-Michael

Hmm, for a theft resistant bike in the city I'd say get a
used 80s "sport" bike and throw some fresh bits like tires,
tape, etc. on it. Older sport bikes usually can accept
racks and fenders much more easily than the newer ones, due
to them usually having "long reach" brakes. Then wrap the
whole thing in masking tape and spray with whatever crappy
rattlecan paint you've got handy--just make it ugly! If you
ever get sick of the "camoflage", you can just peel off the
tape. 🙂 You should be able to throw something together
that rides like a dream, but doesn't look worth a damn for
2-3 bills.

good luck, and my sympathies, I just lost my favourite bike
of 7 years to the thieves.

Michael Libby said:

So what other bikes should I consider with the features I
want (road bike with rack eyelets and down tube shifters)
and in the same price range? And what would I do if none of
the LBS don't have any in stock? Will shops normally order
stuff like that or what?

Thanks for your advice and suggestions.

-Michael

How about used? The paint will be worn, less flashy,
less resale value to a thief. You can pick up a very
good road bike from the '80s or early '90s for less than
your Fuji. When rack mounts were common. And downtube
shifting was the norm.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Someone stole my bike while I was at work! It was a two
month old 2003 Fuji League. First non-department store
bike I've ever bought, too. My prior theory has always
been to buy really cheap bikes in case they get swiped
(and sometimes I'm surprised at what people will steal--
maybe if stealing a bike was a serious crime like "Grand
Theft Bicycle", y'know, a felony).

Thankfully I can still ride a Schwinn cheapo mountain bike
I have (I don't drive a car-- just bike and bus), but I
know I'm going to be anxious to get back in the saddle of
something a bit more road-worthy soon.

Here's what initially drew me to the Fuji League: down
tube shifters, dropped handlebars, rack eyelets, fairly
light, the price. And after riding it, I really came to
like the firm, leather seat and think the League was a
darn good bike. Even the coloring was nice, black with
blue accents.

Because I have the backup bike and some time, I thought
maybe I'd ask around about what else might be a good
alternative to the Fuji League in that same < $400
price range.

I'm a bit shy on the 2004 Fuji Leagues, being all bright
red like they are, and I might be able to find another
2003 Fuji League in my size. But these bikes just kind of
look expensive, everyone kept telling me so. "ooh, what a
NICE bike!" And I always said "whatever, all the actually
nice bikes cost two and three times as much, but if you
say so..." I think all the pretty decals and the triple-
colored seat don't help much.

Obviously I'll be double-locking from now on (today's lock
was just a cable lock) and I maybe will look at plastering
some stickers on the new ride to make it look less "nice".
Or something! I'm certainly not going to let the next nice
book look nice, that's for sure.

So what other bikes should I consider with the features I
want (road bike with rack eyelets and down tube shifters)
and in the same price range? And what would I do if none
of the LBS don't have any in stock? Will shops normally
order stuff like that or what?

Thanks for your advice and suggestions.

It's not going to be easy to find a bike with downtube
shifters anymore unless you want to build it yourself (a
reasonable option if you have a modicum of mechanical
skill); most will come with integrated shifters, even at the
$500 price point.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
the newsgroups if possible).

Michael Libby said:

Great suggestion. I've started scouting thrift stores and
found one old road bike from an obscure brand (Corsaro?)
for $10 that will need some improvements, but the cost
savings over a replacement Fuji League will buy a lot of
spare/replacement parts.

I'll have to hit the garage sales this weekend. Just have
to be careful not to pick up too many $10 bikes, though!

You can also try curb-shopping on garbage day...but then you
REALLY end up with too many bikes.
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian said:

You can also try curb-shopping on garbage day...but then
you REALLY end up with too many bikes.

That's something that hinges on your location, here in
Nashville, you'll never ever find a decent bike on trash day--
though I did get a set of rollers (!!) once 🙂 Some cities
are good for bikes, some, like Chicago--rock for furniture
on trash day.

I spent two weeks looking for a used bike here, and had to
pay $70 for my 70s fixer upper--still cheaper than ebay and
shipping, and I did get a full 600 group and a fresh Campy
ti BB (!) 😉

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

That's something that hinges on your location, here in
Nashville, you'll never ever find a decent bike on trash
day--though I did get a set of rollers (!!) once 🙂 Some
cities are good for bikes, some, like Chicago--rock for
furniture on trash day.

I've picked up a frame, a trainer and furniture on trash
day. I passed on an older racermate with power unit and
other similar items. If you are patient and have the time
and means to tranport the stuff you find, you can get quite
a bit of decent stuff out of the garbage.
-------------
Alex

maxo said:

David Kerber said:

most will come with integrated shifters, even at the $500
price point.

How do they do it? Buying power I guess...integrated is
all well and good, but for a city utility/sport bike--one
gentle spill and you're out >100 bucks vs. 20 for a brake
lever. I still ride ones with the cable though the top,
albeit on fancy Ritchey ergo bars, can't be buggered to
change 🙂

They really aren't that fragile. I'm riding bar-ends
predominatly now. But I put about 11,000 miles on my Tiagra
brifters on my OCR2, including some pretty good (bad ?)
wrecks. They were dinged up, but otherwise fine. Right now
they're sitting in my parts box waiting for a cheap road
frame to attach them to.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
Chameleon circuits rule- my other TARDIS is two Porches and
a Lamborghini!