For ten months in 2001/2002 I rode from England to Singapore by bike via Siberia. Since then, I’ve been living in Taiwan. In 2004 I rode around Taiwan for charity. In total, I’ve ridden 28 or 29,000km on that bike through about 22 countries and I’ve spent some of the very best times of my life riding it.
Last night, it was stolen from outside the Breeze Centre in Taipei. Heartbroken doesn’t come close to describing how I feel. I didn’t know whether to cry, shout, scream, punch the wall or just stand there gobsmacked. As it was, it was a mixture of the first and last. A little disillusioned with human nature too, though not surprised.
It’s a 2000 Giant Expedition, a girls’ bike (no crossbar), those funny “butterfly” multi position handlebars, 700c wheels, covered in car country stickers and generally looks a bit weathered - as you’d expect. It’s crossed mountains, deserts and vast plains.
We told the police, gave them a photo, description etc. They took it seriously, but naturally, you can’t expect too much.
You don’t need to tell me not to hold out too much hope, but I won’t give up until I’ve done what I can. I’ll be asking at the bike shops I know well if they know where stolen bikes turn up. Other than that, I’m not sure what I can do…
Not that I think anyone here would ever be that mercenary, but I’d pay very good money to get it back. If someone had spent their money to buy it, and then discovered it was mine, it would be reasonable that they weren’t out of pocket. If anyone does see it, buy it. I’ll pay plus any expenses.
Or even if anyone happens to know any dodgy characters who may or may not have been involved in the not-exactly-legal bicycle trade, I just want my baby back.
Last time I posted a cycling related post, re the round Taiwan cycling trip, I was accused of being a troll. www.resaturate.com/cycleoverland
Maybe some good can come of this. You have to get over these things and move on - after grieving. I’m trying to tell myself that it’s good to be free of material attachments. Trouble is, it wasn’t so much a material attachment as my sole transport and a major part of my life past and present.
I’ve also told myself that if I rode a bike in Taipei for long enough, it was probably inevitable that I would either have it nicked or get in an accident. Lucky it wasn’t the latter.
Maybe this post is just therapy. But if anyone has any ideas of anything I could usefully do, or even tales of getting stolen property back, they’d be much appreciated.