Hello Everyone,

Please could you all keep your eyes peeled for an Intense 5.5 in biege/ sand new 2006 colour). I've only had the bike for 4 weeks and it was stolen from my Thule roof rack in Asda car park, Bedminster. Asda reckon they know who the thief is, and he's a local, so hopefully the bike won't go too far?

If you do see the bike, or come into contact with it, or hear anything about it, I am willing to offer a significant reward (£dreds).

I am contactable via email: mackeroo@hotmail.com
or
mobile: 07815 098638

If you've never had a bike stolen before, I can assure you it is the single worst feeling ever.

Keep on trucking

Paul

That's terrible, b*stards. I live in that area and I'll keep an eye out. It will probably turn up in Cash Convertors on East Street, or Trade it.

Cheers Rob - I have already contacted Cash Convertors and they have been very helpful. I'll also make contact with Trade-it. Thanks for the advice.

Scum - total scum. I hate this feeling!!!!!!

I know how gut-wrenching it feels to have a decent bike stolen. Could you post up a picture of it so we know what to look out for? There is always a chance someone will spot it for you

Bike found by..me..whilst at work & guy riding it detained..returned to the rightful owner..

really? brilliant news. it took me three and a half years to get mine back

Duncan

Phil, you are the MAN!!!!!!!!

I can't tell you how thankful I am!

I am the happiest/ luckiest man alive!!!!!!

The Police (god bless their souls) caught the little scroat who nicked my bike riding around Victoria Park. Thankfully the officer (Phil) who caught him was a mountain biker and saw it looked pretty suspicious that a scruff was riding a £3k race bike!!!

Also, and purely by coincidence, Phil picked up a flyer that I posted in Pembury Cycles (Southville) that morning, which helped him identify the bike as stolen!

All in all - I'm very, very lucky.

Three stories to learn here:

- The lock on the Thule roofracks don't do shit! Bike was ripped off in less than 30secs even though it was correctly locked on. Gunna use a seperate lock to the roof bars every time!
- Changing my house insurance to Marks and Spencer - they offer up to £4k bike value as opposed to £500 on my bollocks policy!
- Do all you can to advertise and get your bike back - I really didn't think I would - but my fliers and notification of the Police paid off.

Happy days - can't wait to get back on the trails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

Big thanks to Phil (AGAIN)!

For your sevices to cycling :-)



Well done that man... Get your crate of beer for that one.

Congrats on getting your bike back. I thought it was a flyer from Garlands that Phil got? Damon was taking all the credit last night!

I think the biggest lesson to learn is to not leave an expensive bike on the roof of your car really!!

Steve,

I think Phil said he went into Pembury Cycles, but I did put a flyer into Garlands as well - who were very helpful when I spoke to them.

Yes, bikes on roofs = trouble! However, I thought the Thule lock would hold it up there for more than 30 seconds!!!!? Obviously not! I have written to Thule asking them what is the point in having a locking system on their rack? - Bit of a design flaw if you can just wrench a bike out?

Alls well, that ends well!

Keep on trucking!

M

You're a lucky boy. I wouldn't leave any expensive bike in Bedminster Asda Car park, however many locks it had. Actually I wouldn't leave a fairly cheap bike either. Good tip on the insurance though, I'm only covered for £1500 at the moment and need more.

How is the 5.5? It's on my list of possibles for a frame upgrade. I take it you use it in Leigh woods etc?

Hello everyone, its luckyboy Paul here!!!!

I agree with Rob's comments about not leaving any bike in Asda, Bedminster - what was I thinking?

Anyhow, I have just received a response from Thule regarding the 591 bike carrier, makes an interesting read:

"Dear Mr. Mackie,

I am very sorry to hear that your bike was stolen.

Regarding the theft itself I am quite shocked. However, I must say that the 30 seconds it took for the thief to steal your bike is acceptable time limit for us. I know it sounds hard, and I will try to explain my point of view.

If one would relate to how long it would take to pick a car lock, for an experienced thief that is, would not take longer than let say 20 seconds. When considering that our products are car accessories then you might get my point? As you wrote, the thief had to wrestle with it to get the bike loose, and it brought attention to it, and it the eye witness had some courage he would have stopped the theft.

Our bike carriers are as we say lockable, but they are not designed to stop a committed thief, I am afraid. However, as you told us in your mail it was not that easily stolen that one could do it unnoticed, true?

Furthermore I must point out, that our locks secure the bikes to the bike carriers, and they are essential that they are used/ locked during travel as we say in our Security Regulations and Mounting Instructions.

Best regards,

Thule"

Can't say I agree with all their comments, but I guess the lesson to be learnt is that it is not a serious security device (although I thought it was).

Be safe kids - and use every lock you've got!

P

Rob: In terms of the 5.5, yes, it is an awesome frame. Build quality is exceptional. Taking a little while to dial the suspension in, but it is good. I may actually have a 5.5 for sale if you're interested? In a fit of panic I bought a replacement for the one that got stolen. Its gone straight onto the credit card, but I will need to sell it asap to get out of debt. Size: medium. Let me know (mackeroo@hotmail.com). You can try mine if you like - as long as I can be physically locked to the frame when you're riding it!!!!

I gave Phil the flyer in Garlands earlier that morning after speaking to you on the phone the day before. Had i not done so Phil would not have recognised the scroat riding past him in Victoria Park. So Paul at your lesure a crate of beer would go down very well!! Ta love

Dangerous Deeman