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@Chopsicle
A ray of sunlight out of the darkness; I recovered my Red Baron Langster today, thanks to putting word out through various networks...
..and found it half a mile from Brick Lane and half a mile from my work. Seen by the manager of the bike shop I work in (I'm a part-time mechanic) he slapped on a lock, a message saying it was stolen property and a phone number. By the time I'd turned up, they'd resolved it and regained possession (no mistaking it was mine) by suggesting to phone the police and that would be a waste of everyone's time to do so.
The girl who had it handed it over fair and square - but has left when I got there - and they got her phone number. Apparently it was lent to her by a male friend who had picked it up in Brick Lane last weekend, so I gave her a call this evening to say I was the owner, how much I loved the bike and to say thanks for handing it back graciously and without fuss. I was inclined to believe her that she'd had the bike lent to her, it's definitely a blokes choice of bike, not to mention the 61cm frame.
I pointed out that it makes no sense to buy bikes from Brick Lane, everyone has lost out here (even though I've got my bike back, I'm two locks down, and her mate is out of pocket) and I'd do my best to help her source an honest bike, possibly even see if we can help her out at the shop. Call me soft, but I see this as an opportunity to educate her and her friends on the f'ing stupidity of it all.
Things I've learned?
To record all my frame numbers - I've got my good ones documented, but not my runarounds.
Despite it being customised, I was wondering how I was going to prove ownership beyond doubt? Will now be sticking laminated cards w. contact details somewhere inside (ie headtube/bb/seat tube) all my frames, and photographing (with me in the pic as someone suggested above) my bikes.
Having a distincitve bike definitely helped out.
Be nice. These people are ignorant to the fundamental problems of bike culture, so flying off the handle wouldn't have helped anyone.
It's not really a 'success story', but thanks for reading. I'll keep looking on here for stolen rigs to keep my eyes open for.