The Fall Of Carrera

P.S. I have a photo of Marco Pantani on a Carrera and they were once quite popular. I'm now gonna drown my sorrows with a beer or two. 🙁

That really sucks.

It's probably already been off loaded, in exchange for a fix. I'd keep an eye on and ebay and check out the local hock shops. Thiefs usually live local to where they rob, so they probably off loaded local.

Also my LBS keeps a list of the frame numbers for sales, so if you haven't got yours, check out the shop where you purchased, as the may have the frame number.

I've been asking round the shops to see what they have on the CCTV tapes and can only hope they'll check for me. I'm looking for someone who would have been riding the bike around 7.45 a.m. I still find it hard to believe a theft could take place at that time, simply due to leaving my bike unattended for 5 minutes! It will cost me dearly. Even when I buy a new roadbike, I'll have to fit gator tyres to eliminate punctures and maybe add a different cassette due to my climbing steep hills.
The only possible comfort is that I did so many miles and my chainset would have been coming up for renewal. Plus, there was some ware such as the damaged lining on the seat and the peeling shifter hoods (maybe due to that much sweat).
All in all though, guys and girls, believe me this happens. It's a good idea to insure a bike against accident or theft and never ever take chances like I did this morning. I knew I was taking a risk leaving it propped up but I figured the chances of theft at that time of morning were zero. I was wrong, though.
It's sad to lose a bike I did so much hard-training on.

mikesbytes said:

That really sucks.

It's probably already been off loaded, in exchange for a fix. I'd keep an eye on and ebay and check out the local hock shops. Thiefs usually live local to where they rob, so they probably off loaded local.

Also my LBS keeps a list of the frame numbers for sales, so if you haven't got yours, check out the shop where you purchased, as the may have the frame number.

Yeh, its hard to get +'ves out of the situation, true the cost of a replacement is reduced by the saving in not replacing worn components. You are probably better to get the LBS to change the parts when you purchase, as there may be little cost to you as the LBS can reuse the new parts that they take off.

Check you household insurance, you might be covered.

Carrera said:

What do Muhammad Ali, Carrera and Madonna have in common? Answer: We all had our bikes stolen.
Here's a warning for everyone: I had my bike stolen this morning at about 7.40 a.m. I was on my way to work and in a bit of a rush so I took my bike out of the garage a bit early. Usually I take it out last thing but I was trying to save time.
I looked about the street and it seemed deserted. I propped the bike up against the garage wall so it was right up the drive. Then I popped back into the house for about 4 minutes or so, figuring the chances of the bike being pinched were virtually zero - at that time in the morning. I mean, hell, I once forgot to put my bike in the garage all day and it was still there when I got back.
Nevertheless, when I went back outside to hop on the bike it was gone. I was stunned. I looked everywhere and realised it was the worst case scenario.
All I could do was get my best training bike out of the garage and use that to go to work. On arrival, I contacted the police and they took a description.
Folks, this was my original Carrera - my first racing bike I bought second hand at the time. I've been using it for almost 3 years in rain, sleet and snow. It's a basic roadbike but it served me really well and I've done hundreds of miles on it. I've always used 2 bikes - one for pure training and the other for rainy day training and getting to work and back e.t.c.
I've decided I now have no option but to buy another mid-range roadbike but not from Rourkes as they tend to only stock the higher range. I'll probably go for a Claude Buttler model or something like that (about 270 pounds). However, this has come at a time when I've paid a lot of money out on other expenses and will dent my wallet. Maybe I can get the money back through insurance, though.
At any rate, I'm no longer the Carrera you all love or hate. I doubt my replacement bike will be a Carrera (unless maybe the Police find my stolen bike).
I sincerely hope the crook who stole it falls off and busts his ass!

Commiserations! I had 2 bikes stolen from inside my house last year. Covered by insurance though, so upgraded! I now lock inside with a chain. That way they can't ride away on them with their ill gotten gains!

Stealing somebody's bike can change the course of history. Look what happened when Cassius Clay's bike got stolen. After that, Clay took up boxing as he wanted to whup the individual who stole his bike. I wonder what bike it was Clay had for that matter?
I just hope the CCTV footage shows something. I have 2 or 3 locations searching the tapes.

Little Jackie said:

Commiserations! I had 2 bikes stolen from inside my house last year. Covered by insurance though, so upgraded! I now lock inside with a chain. That way they can't ride away on them with their ill gotten gains!

Carrera said:

What do Muhammad Ali, Carrera and Madonna have in common? Answer: We all had our bikes stolen.
Here's a warning for everyone: I had my bike stolen this morning at about 7.40 a.m. I was on my way to work and in a bit of a rush so I took my bike out of the garage a bit early. Usually I take it out last thing but I was trying to save time.
I looked about the street and it seemed deserted. I propped the bike up against the garage wall so it was right up the drive. Then I popped back into the house for about 4 minutes or so, figuring the chances of the bike being pinched were virtually zero - at that time in the morning. I mean, hell, I once forgot to put my bike in the garage all day and it was still there when I got back.
Nevertheless, when I went back outside to hop on the bike it was gone. I was stunned. I looked everywhere and realised it was the worst case scenario.
All I could do was get my best training bike out of the garage and use that to go to work. On arrival, I contacted the police and they took a description.
Folks, this was my original Carrera - my first racing bike I bought second hand at the time. I've been using it for almost 3 years in rain, sleet and snow. It's a basic roadbike but it served me really well and I've done hundreds of miles on it. I've always used 2 bikes - one for pure training and the other for rainy day training and getting to work and back e.t.c.
I've decided I now have no option but to buy another mid-range roadbike but not from Rourkes as they tend to only stock the higher range. I'll probably go for a Claude Buttler model or something like that (about 270 pounds). However, this has come at a time when I've paid a lot of money out on other expenses and will dent my wallet. Maybe I can get the money back through insurance, though.
At any rate, I'm no longer the Carrera you all love or hate. I doubt my replacement bike will be a Carrera (unless maybe the Police find my stolen bike).
I sincerely hope the crook who stole it falls off and busts his ass!

Hey, did you check with wurm?

Wurm spends too much time cycling with Bush down at Crawford. 😄

2FAST4U said:

Hey, did you check with wurm?

I've put a deposit down for a Claude Butler model. This is a very intermediate bike but it does have a shimano gearset e.t.c. It also has carbon forks and at 350 pounds this is a bit cheaper than Rourkes. All I need is the bike for Winter training and general transport but I decided to take out personal insurance cover. I've been knocked off twice this year and now a bike stolen so insurance seems the best option.

Carrera, your bike right...is it the Carrera that is hand made in Italy and is a state of the art road bike as ridden by the likes of Pantani early in his career, or are we talking about some kind of halfords own brand korean stuff?

You want to replace it with a CB...NOT the brand it once used to be..

oh and btw, when you do contact your insurance company be sure not to give them the same version you gave us....the one about you leaving it outside unlocked in the street while you were in the house making a sandwich..

you may want to embelish it slightly with a titanium lock and a guard dog....other wise the might say, 'on yer bike sonny'

however, getting your bike nicked is really pish...sorry to hear about that..

Carrera said:

I've put a deposit down for a Claude Butler model. This is a very intermediate bike but it does have a shimano gearset e.t.c. It also has carbon forks and at 350 pounds this is a bit cheaper than Rourkes. All I need is the bike for Winter training and general transport but I decided to take out personal insurance cover. I've been knocked off twice this year and now a bike stolen so insurance seems the best option.

You have my sympathies - parting with something you've spent many hours with is unpleasant...I recently broke my Scott frame after many year/miles together.

Do I get to share a beer? :-)

Oi! Just realised you come from close to where I use to live (well relatively close now that I'm back in South Africa). I lived in Sandbach and worked in Crewe some years ago - ahhh those long rides through the peak districts....

The mention od Rourkes sent me spiralling down memory lane - thanks!

Mountain Pro, I doubt it was a state of the art Carrera but, hey, it was my first proper racing bike. I'm absolutely gutted and this has knocked my confidence to the point of paranoia.
I picked up the Claude Butler model today and let me tell you something: This is a damned good bike for the price and I've just been riding it. It feels a touch lighter than my Scott Sport (it comes with carbon forks) and has a really nice feel to it that again somehow differs from the Scott. So, I'm getting a different experience on both bikes.
I will be taking out insurance. I'll be double padlocking the bikes from now on and I may even fit microchips to the frames and trackers.
I think the chump who stole my bike is a complete tw*t but, you know, same as Chris Eubank I wouldn't prosecute someone for theft if my bike was returned - I'd just be relieved to see it again and let the situation rest at that.
I noticed my average speed on the flat on my Scott was 26 mph the other day on the flat so I can't wait to see how the new bike compares.
Anyway this is crazy, I'm writing this and keep popping outside to check the bike's still there even though it's chained up!!!

MountainPro said:

Carrera, your bike right...is it the Carrera that is hand made in Italy and is a state of the art road bike as ridden by the likes of Pantani early in his career, or are we talking about some kind of halfords own brand korean stuff?

You want to replace it with a CB...NOT the brand it once used to be..

oh and btw, when you do contact your insurance company be sure not to give them the same version you gave us....the one about you leaving it outside unlocked in the street while you were in the house making a sandwich..

you may want to embelish it slightly with a titanium lock and a guard dog....other wise the might say, 'on yer bike sonny'

however, getting your bike nicked is really pish...sorry to hear about that..

You could have shared one beer, 2 beers, 3 beers, many beers as I drowned my sorrows. I was heartbroken.

Eldron said:

You have my sympathies - parting with something you've spent many hours with is unpleasant...I recently broke my Scott frame after many year/miles together.

Do I get to share a beer? :-)

Oi! Just realised you come from close to where I use to live (well relatively close now that I'm back in South Africa). I lived in Sandbach and worked in Crewe some years ago - ahhh those long rides through the peak districts....

The mention od Rourkes sent me spiralling down memory lane - thanks!

Rourkes stock the top range material - brand names such as Scott, Cannondale, Pinarello e.t.c. What I wanted was a midrange bike for winter and everyday use so I opted not to go for Rourkes in this situation. So, I tried Claude Butler - a cheaper brand that Rourkes probably wouldn't touch.
There are things I need to fix. I will need to fit gator tyres which are wider and very tough to puncture. I need to also fit Brian Rourke tension screws which I find are far better than the plastic gizmos my bike came with. Plus, I doubt I could climb those hills on the way to Buxton unless I fit a bigger rear cassette cog as last time I tried that gear range I nearly had a heart attack.
What a pity the Carrera had just been fitted with new Rourke cable screws which didn't come cheap but don't seize up in bad weather.
My new bike does have standard shimano which is a must. The taping on the bars is very basic but again the feel of the bike is great - easy to handle and fast.
I did get drunk when my Carrera was stolen, though. I drank some gold labels and sulked. I climbed all the big hills on that bike in all weathers and it has sentimental value. Poor Carrera! 🙁 😠 🙁

Eldron said:

You have my sympathies - parting with something you've spent many hours with is unpleasant...I recently broke my Scott frame after many year/miles together.

Do I get to share a beer? :-)

Oi! Just realised you come from close to where I use to live (well relatively close now that I'm back in South Africa). I lived in Sandbach and worked in Crewe some years ago - ahhh those long rides through the peak districts....

The mention od Rourkes sent me spiralling down memory lane - thanks!

Carrera said:

Rourkes stock the top range material - brand names such as Scott, Cannondale, Pinarello e.t.c. What I wanted was a midrange bike for winter and everyday use so I opted not to go for Rourkes in this situation. So, I tried Claude Butler - a cheaper brand that Rourkes probably wouldn't touch.
There are things I need to fix. I will need to fit gator tyres which are wider and very tough to puncture. I need to also fit Brian Rourke tension screws which I find are far better than the plastic gizmos my bike came with. Plus, I doubt I could climb those hills on the way to Buxton unless I fit a bigger rear cassette cog as last time I tried that gear range I nearly had a heart attack.
What a pity the Carrera had just been fitted with new Rourke cable screws which didn't come cheap but don't seize up in bad weather.
My new bike does have standard shimano which is a must. The taping on the bars is very basic but again the feel of the bike is great - easy to handle and fast.
I did get drunk when my Carrera was stolen, though. I drank some gold labels and sulked. I climbed all the big hills on that bike in all weathers and it has sentimental value. Poor Carrera! 🙁 😠 🙁

I never really understoood the idea of having a training AND racing bike until I moved to the UK! The pleasant mix of rain and mud/cow dung/plant debri/road rubble wrecks bikes/group sets at a horrible rate...

Ahhh Buxton - I used to ride a long loop around Alderly Egde to Buxton where I stopped for some tea & scones at a biker lodge then home to Sandbach. 60 miles of hills and valleys. Riding through the forrest on the way to Chester was good too.

Best of luck with the new bike - nothing like getting a new shiy machine to make the riding more fun.

Enjoy!

Eldron said:

I never really understoood the idea of having a training AND racing bike until I moved to the UK! The pleasant mix of rain and mud/cow dung/plant debri/road rubble wrecks bikes/group sets at a horrible rate...

Best of luck with the new bike - nothing like getting a new shiy machine to make the riding more fun.

Enjoy!

oh yeah, if you are doing training for the road then a winter bike is a must. There is no point in goign out on an expensive piece of kit when the roads are all covered in salt and grit to prevent icing...

that will destroy it in time for summer racing.

you have to just build up a basic, inexpensive machine and use that over the winter, it wil save you a lot of money.

The salt and grit shouldn't destroy the bike, although it does cause problems. What I used to do is get a bucket of warm soapy water and just wash the bike down thoroughly. That included the chain and rear derailleur spool. However, I wouldn't use a state-of-the-art bike with salt on the road but the one I do use I just give it a damned good wash.

MountainPro said:

oh yeah, if you are doing training for the road then a winter bike is a must. There is no point in goign out on an expensive piece of kit when the roads are all covered in salt and grit to prevent icing...

that will destroy it in time for summer racing.

you have to just build up a basic, inexpensive machine and use that over the winter, it wil save you a lot of money.

ATTENTION!
I have my stolen bike back. The police called yesterday to say they had a bike that covered the description of the one I forwarded on Sunday. Today I went to the storage depot at the Police Station and, sure enough, my Carrera was there. Now here's the sad part:
The shifters had been bent totally out of shape. The rear derailleur is totally knackered and the chain hanging off. The seat has been banged about. Initially we figured the bike was a write-off but on getting it home, I concluded the shifters are probably still functional.
Looks like I'll have to start by cleaning the whole bike up, maybe buy a new set of dropdown handlebars and refit the shifters. I'll need a new shimano rear derailleur from Rourkes.
If the shifters are knackered, I'd have major problems but I think they're O.K. Why, though, would someone take a bike that's been looked after and simply vandalise it for no reason at all? I'm still looking for whoever grabbed it and the trail is getting hotter.

Wonderful to hear that you have your bike back if only for sentimental reasons. Maybe just the nudge you needed to buy a new bike!

Your thieves may simply have been frustrated, couldn't change gear properly and dropped the chain, so took out their ire on the derailleur