The Bicycle Thief

It has been some kind of week.  I sit here on Saturday night, closing out the week and realize how much has happened!  I am in West Virginia right now, relaxing and spending time with my family, but earlier this week was not so nice and easy.

It all boils down to Wednesday.  What a DAY Wednesday was!  All the drama began at lunch when I bounced across the street with my bike helmet in hand - excited about the bike ride I was about to take.  When I reached the bike rack, I quickly realized that I had a bit of a problem.  My bike was not there.  A sadness came over me as I quickly had to accept the fact that my bike had been stolen and there was nothing I could do about it.  My busted lock lay on the ground by the rack, hiding between the neighboring bikes that were able to stay when my my beautiful pink and white bike had been taken away.  So sad!

I don't want to be pessimistic, but realistic in saying that I don't think I will ever see that bike again.  :( The security guards promised to review the surveillance cameras (that were not facing the bike rack) and contact me if they found anything, but the best case scenario seemed as though I would be able to wave at a little tv screen as I watched some fuzzy, hooded, figure ride away with my wheels.  What other feeling could I take back to the office besides a sick, nauseous feeling.

I could hardly focus on my work - so distracted by this violation.  Who would do such a thing?  Why would they take my bike from me?  I had looked so hard for the 'perfect' bike and was so happy with it.  I felt like this bicycle thief had stolen my soul! My happiness! My freedom!!! Arrrghhh!  I was so mad and wanted to get the bike back.  Walking through the neighborhood I felt as if my bike was near - trying to tell me where it was - but it couldn't and I could not reach out to it either.  I wanted it to ring it's little bell over and over so I could run to it, rescue it, and bring it back to it's happy home. 

In my struggle to focus at work, I jumped onto Craigslist to see if the thief had placed my bike up for sale yet.  I started scouring the ads to see what I could find.  In my emotional state, I couldn't remember the exact name, so I went over to the Diamondback website and saw the new model of my missing bike.  I took a link and found it for sale on a sporting store website.  I was so tempted to pay the money right then and buy the new version.  I knew I was going to be miserable going around to all the local bike shops - never seeing a bike I loved as much as my Vital 2.  The new bikes would be expensive.  The old ones would be affordable, but not cheap, and they would be rusty and beaten up.  I was spoiled by my great bike (that I bought in WV!) and wanted it back!  My emotions were going wild as I tried to resist grabbing my credit card and getting it over with.  In the meantime I go back over to Craigslist to see if during the 2 minutes on Dick's website the thief had posted my bike.  Well my heart jumps when I see the headline: DiamondBack Women's bike - like new - never ridden.  I thought THAT JERK!  There is my bike!  I clicked the link and NO - someone had posted the newer model!  The same one I was considering buying! 

To make a long story shorter, I contacted the seller and tried to keep my cool as I thought about the crazy idea of buying a new bike the same day mine went missing.  I was afraid I was just acting on emotions - trying to replace the bike before I had time to be too sad.  I was hoping I didn't want to buy this bike for the sake of buying a bike.  But it really wasn't like that.  It was strange.  The bike that I wanted.  The bike that I probably would have ended up buying even if I waited a month was right there, immediately in front of me.  And for a decent price - without taxes or shipping!  I went out to see it that night.  It rode like a jewel - seriously brand new and never ridden before.  It had been a gift to it's owner and she had never found the time to ride it and was concerned about a knee injury, so decided she no longer wanted it taking up space. I handed over my cash and rode it home! 
The day was a whirlwind. I felt like I'd been thrown around, but I felt pretty good as I rode my new bike to my apartment.  I felt like maybe I didn't let the whole incident didn't get the best of me.  I was very sad to loose the pink bike, but glad that a great replacement was put right in front of me.  And you better believe I will be investing in one of those Kryptonite bike locks - the kind that weigh more than the bike but are said to be the only locks that will protect a bike in NY.   This little incident better be the last of its kind for me!