Christowp

Bikes taken: Giant SCR1 road bike, Genisis hybrid single speed commuter with Brookes saddle, Trek 6000 26er MTB and Varta Dutch "fiets"

Had an entertainment area invasion late last night, between midnight and 01h00. Alarm was not armed as a family member was not home yet. The intruders stole 4 much loved bikes which have been part of our regular activities. Nothing fancy, on the older side, but regular use bikes we lived with and enjoyed. The police basically indicated that these items are never recovered and suggested we get onto the insurance company as soon as we receive the case number from them. So where do these stolen items go to and where are they re-sold? There does seem to be a market and a network if the info people share is to be believed. Thankfully no family members were endangered and not much damage to the room structure from forced entry. We are saddened by the loss as we enjoyed the bikes and know it is going to be difficult to replace. Mixed feelings and emotions - sadness and anger and gratitude that no one hurt or injured.

Thank you for the responses. I will contact the folk in the link you supplied Reuben 101. Regards CR

Hi there Anybody know whether tyres like these are available at bike shops in the Western cape. Looking for semi slick, multi surface tyres. Not knobby type. More like the old continental Town and Country tyres or the kind of tyres popular on gravel bikes. Have found it difficult to find any tyres for 26" wheels actually. Any leads or advice welcome Thks

HI Everyone Thanks for the inputs. I bought a Trek 6000 off FB marketplace. Was disassembled (wheels off) but the bones looked good. I gave it some TLC and now up and running. Basically needed to replace brake "shoes", Rear gear cable ad adjust gears. Also needed to service the shifters. Good learning curve thanks to You Tube. Not quite the rigid bike I was looking for but enjoying the ride. Going to need new tyres soon. Got if for less than R1k

I have been looking for a replacement bike after my trusty and very good condition Trek 4000 was lifted from our garage about two years ago. So I keep looking at adverts and for sale sites. Very few "basic mountain bikes" (no suspension or shock absorber forks) coming up for sale. I am a social rider who enjoys cycling in and around the neighborhood. A basic bike or the commuter kind will do it for me. No luck for a while. O wonder if folks are all hanging on to their old bikes or if they are in storage somewhere. While scanning ads I was amazed at how the prices of mountain bikes in particular have shot into the stratosphere. I understand that there has been some evolutionary strides in materials used, frame geometries, gears and transmission systems, brakes etc. But what has happened to justify a second hand mountain bike costing more than a small hatchback or a family sedan. How can a second hand bicycle cost R250 000. I am not a bike nerd but I love bicycles and like many folk in SA grew up with bicycles as a form of transport to school and as a leisure activity. Even did a few cycle races on my then road bike. Got my kinds into cycling and they continue to enjoy bicycles to this day. I suppose real bike fraternity members and bike nerds will understand the high prices of bicycles, but its really a bit shocking to me. I have other hobbies and have seen similar trends there but there is a point of diminishing returns. Not sure I will ever be able to justify spending R40 000 on a bicycle. Just some thoughts from what I am sure is an uninformed perspective on serious cycling. Times change and things change. I still find it difficult to reconcile the price tags on the exotic bicycles. I am sure folks who buy them know why they do and enjoy their purchases / investments to the maximum.