Birds reclaim stolen bike shocker. Pls Advise

i like the idea of building them a beater.

i could donate front wheel.

You buy a stolen car for say £25,000 and the police find it then you lose it, no compensation.

I agree that in this instance it would be nice to help out the buyer as long as they are completely innocent- but how would that be established, and also as someone else has pointed out Brick Lane has a reputation for what kind of bike?

good faith my arse, anyone who buys from there must have a sneaking suspicion that it's dodgy

I'd never heard of the place and had no idea that it's was a mecca for bike thieves before seeing it mentioned on this website more than once.

Brick Lane has a reputation for what kind of bike?

Fixie skidders

I don't think you'll find many of us who've bought a 30 year old bike from a dodgy fucker down Brick Lane on a Sunday.

Anyway back to the bike rescue...

Perhaps not, but that's not what I said. Very old bikes, frames and components go on sale here and elsewhere all the time, and their complete history is often unknown. That was my point.

I'm not saying that people should be caught with stolen goods and let off completely - I just think that talk of going down to meet someone en-masse is a tad heavy-handed when nobody knows if they've done anything wrong.

Still, glad this one looks like it will be resolved (apart from the poor lass who's losing her new bike).

Something odd in the discussion here. Having bought it 'in good faith' seems to add a sheen of legitimacy in some people's eyes. But then again, what proof is there of that transaction?

Whoever is riding around on a stolen bike might very well have stolen it themselves for all we know. The buying/selling is the uncertain part, the theft most definitely certain.

Somethings are just obviously stolen, like those guys that drive around industrial estates going, "oi mate do want to by a new t.v, I got some in the back of the van, from a trade show bla bal bal"

You buy a stolen car for say £25,000 and the police find it then you lose it, no compensation.

I agree that in this instance it would be nice to help out the buyer as long as they are completely innocent- but how would that be established, and also as someone else has pointed out Brick Lane has a reputation for what kind of bike?

You say that but there are a couple of honest traders down there, Keith for example has a plot there every week, you get reciepts and a traceable history.

good faith my arse, anyone who buys from there must have a sneaking suspicion that it's dodgy

Unless perhaps they are new to the area and haven't had are a bit niave to the ways of the world.

When I first moved to London, Brick Lane was touted as a good place for second hand bikes. One guy there seemed fairly genuine as a second hand bike trader and was offering reasonable bikes at a decent price. Had I not decided to go looking around other places then I probably would have unwittingly bought a hot set of wheels.

Right, everyone has to have receipts for everything from now on, and carry them all the time. All things made and bought before this legislation will be destroyed just to make sure there are no further misunderstandings...

I'd never heard of the place and had no idea that it's was a mecca for bike thieves before seeing it mentioned on this website more than once.

if you had gone there to buy a bike you would have known it was dodgy. If you had stumbled upon the market you would have seen it was dodgy.

Roxy, it's about intimidation, not confusion.

huh?

again, huh?

Right, everyone has to have receipts for everything from now on, and carry them all the time. ...

I get your irony/sarcasm. There might not always be receipts, but if the transaction was second hand you should be able to fairly swiftly be able to explain who you bought it from and within a day or so produce that persons phone number, e-bay seller account or similar. As well as that person giving their word that they sold it to you of course.

But if you can only refer to a transaction in the street/pub with someone you're at best are on first names with, then you're no friend of mine. Ever.

Somethings are just obviously stolen, like those guys that drive around industrial estates going, "oi mate do want to by a new t.v, I got some in the back of the van, from a trade show bla bal bal"

I was blotto on Brick Lane some months ago... It was late. As I walked out of the Bagel shop there were 2 chaps with a bag of brand new jumpers. They looked quite cool, greeny brown with patches on the shoulders. They were selling them for one pound each.

I purchased one...

In my reduced capacity, it took some time for it to dawn on me that they were stolen and that my pound was to be shortly converted into crack or special brew.

I've never worn the thing. It's sat in the bottom of my wardrobe, folded, a silent reminder of my ethical oversight.

About a week ago, I put it in my backpack to drop it in a poor bin if I see one. Im hoping this will cleanse my conscience. Its still in there... just haven't got around to it yet.

I was blotto on Brick Lane some months ago... It was late. As I walked out of the Bagel shop there were 2 chaps with a bag of brand new jumpers. They looked quite cool, greeny brown with patches on the shoulders. They were selling them for one pound each.

I purchased one...

In my reduced capacity, it took some time for it to dawn on me that they were stolen and that my pound was to be shortly converted into crack or special brew.

I've never worn the thing. It's sat in the bottom of my wardrobe, folded, a silent reminder of my ethical oversight.

About a week ago, I put it in my backpack to drop it in a poor bin if I see one. Im hoping this will cleanse my conscience. Its still in there... just haven't got around to it yet.

lambswool?

OK, we have the girl who bought the bike, tillier and the police all in our office

Poor girl. She spent £150 on it off Gumtree - and met the guy who sold it in a street somewhere. She's now bikeless and can't commute to work...

OK, we have the girl who bought the bike, tillier and the police all in our office

Poor girl. She spent £150 on it off Gumtree - and met the guy who sold it in a street somewhere. She's now bikeless and can't commute to work...

That sucks.

Update 2: The Police can't resolve anything unless the girls want to take it to court. Can we build this girl a beater? Good Forum deed #4350?

Buy cheap
Buy twice

OK, we have the girl who bought the bike, tillier and the police all in our office

Poor girl. She spent £150 on it off Gumtree - and met the guy who sold it in a street somewhere. She's now bikeless and can't commute to work...

She's right you know. There's no possible way of getting there on a bus or the tube. We're all evil.

again, huh?

There was a spree of comments about comedy things for the OP to say when confronting the illegitimate owner.

Took your post into consideration at the end of the spree for obtuse comedy value.

Oh, man. Does anyone have spare bike to donate to brokenhearted Gumtree girl?

Update 2: The Police can't resolve anything unless the girls want to take it to court. Can we build this girl a beater? Good Forum deed #4350?

sounds like a plan, make sure you get her contact info. Ill have arummage and see what i can use.

I like how we assumed it was from Brick Lane.
I would have voted not to make her a beater if she bought a bike from a bloke off the street, without obtaining a receipt or at least asking of it's history, foreign or not.
Buying from Gumtree offers a bit more credibility to the naive I would have said, so maybe there was some good faith.

Build her a beater and tell her to spread the word of buying second hand bikes. I've probably gots some shitey pieces laying around.

i have a front wheel. bit old and bearings are fucked but i can tension it up and regrease em.

a list?

Front wheel: velib
Back Wheel:
Frame:
Bars:
Stem:
Tyres:
Cranks:
Seat:
Seatpost:

enough parts for now.