Last night someone got into our stair (off Easter Road) and stole my bike that was locked to the iron banister. It wasn't a great bike but it was my only bike and although I don't expect to see it again here's some nice photos with it in case anyone else does:
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Losing it is a bit of toughie as it's not insured and I can't afford to replace it right now. I guess I just want to lament a bit. It was a cheap bike that had lots of love and abuse over the seven years I've owned it. I've been to some wonderful places on it and a few that know me well enough know that for a while last year being able to get out to the hills everyday (it was literally everyday) was the only thing that kept me going. I've ridden 5000 miles in the last year on it. It's bagged a few munros. I work in outreach and I cycle everywhere, in all conditions. My sense of scale of the city I live in is measured by how fast I can cycle around it. It's a really nice scale and there's never a wasted journey.
I'm still a bit stunned to be without it. I will replace it eventually and I'm lucky that I have a good friend who is looking at assembling some bits and pieces from his cupboard to make something to tide me over. Today I'm just reflecting on how the bicycle is quite a big thing in my life.
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Got a 2006 Rockhopper sitting in my garage you can have to get you back riding. Currently a singlespeed, the only part of it I want to keep are the Mary bars and it might need a new chain. Drop me an email (in profile) if you want it.
Edit - I'm in Edinburgh btw.
I'll chuck you a chain for it FOC Alasdair to get it rideable for OP.
I hate it when stuff like this, with history and memories get nicked. Seven years on your great bike (yes... it was to you...), is a lot of fun, adventure and good times....
Will keep my eyes out for it, keep checking all the usual places.... good luck getting it back...
Generous offer from Alisdair - my depleted parts box is available if any other bits needed
Thanks for that Mark. I'll give it a quick once over and if it does actually need a chain I'll let you know.
Thats shite news Kunstler worth getting in touch with Soulcycles to see if they try and sell It to them . Or obviously keep an eye on gumtree.
Thats rubbish news.
Ive got some old Easton monkey bars that I was about to through out, your welcome to them if it helps get that rockhopper on the road. I'm also in Edinburgh. Will keep an eye out for your giant as well.
Lost my seven year old XTC in January to thieves, it wasn't glamourous either but I loved her. Can feel your pain mate, make sure you give the police a full spec and photos, they're running a campaign on stolen bikes, hope you get it back.
Wow, I'm blown away. Really. Alasdair that's an incredible offer. I'll email you. And thanks tbc and everyone else. I actually can't find the words...
sorry to hear your loss, i've a pair of dmr v8 pedals or a pair of shimano clip ins you can have if that is your persuasion. Let me know if you need a pair of them and i'll send them on up to you. 🙂
I've got a couple of boxes full of bits n pieces. Mechs, shifters, bars, stems etc, none of them bling enough that I'd sell but since I'm based fairly close to Edinburgh you're welcome to any of them if you need to get a bike running.
G
Kunstler - ygm
i hope you get your bike back!
some times STW comes up trumps.
i dont have any MTB parts i can donate.
I'm welling up. Love the STW massive. This is really what a community of like minded individuals should be like.
GREAT WORK EVERYONE
(except the XXXX who took your Giant, he can XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
****ers!
Does it still that that distinctive tyre combo on? I'll keep an eye out.
If you / Alasdair need anything else drop me a line.
Rear xt mech here if you want to un single speed it.
Just mail me.It,s yours...Addy in profile. 🙂
You're welling up? I'm in pieces.
I can't quite believe it. Absolutely floored.
Alasdair just brought me his rockhopper. Really, really can't find the words. What a day.
Got some wheels you can have for pennies and a few other spare bits and tyres that you can have for nowt. Saves me the arse ache of ebaying them.
In fact, got loads of spares that you can have for nowt if needed. Shifters, stem, bars, grips, crank, cassette, tyres, tubes, discs, saddle...think that's it!
Paul, also Easter road!
I have a set of Bonty King Earl riser bars you can have for owt, just mail me if interested.
got a 2007 large giant trance frame here in Edinburgh I need to get rid of at some point, I don't think it is worth much, something to bear in mind if you are thinking of getting a new bike together anyway.
Also got some old riser bars and non fancy stems I keep meaning to give to the bike station if you fancy them.
Wow - was gutted to read the beginning of this post as I know what it means to you. So glad the mtb community has come good for you!
Alasdair - if anyone deserves a bike Kunstler does - well done you!
I'm just glad the bike went to a good home - it was my first mountain bike of me rediscovering biking as an adult so it would have been a shame to see it go to waste.
As it stands, it's in mostly workable nick. Brakes could do with a bleed and new pads, and the chain could perhaps be swapped as I had to split it earlier as it was jammed between the cranks and BB. Everything else should be alright but would benefit from some lubrication.
If you can't get the forks alive again, I've got the original forks sitting unused that you could swap onto it - they're cheap coil Rockshox so probably won't have seized up.
I also forgot to mention that if you're putting gears on it you'll need a new chainring as the steel one is too thick for a 9spd chain.
Hope you enjoy it!!
I can't thank you enough Alasdair. It's awesome.
Wow Alasdair - proper well done!
And honestly - if there's anything needs replaced - drop me a line.
We should have a "Britians got Talent" category for "good guys" - I think you'd win!
Plenty of bits here I can give if required. Post up if you need anything.
B
Kunstler,
F&r mechs, bars/stems, saddle, seatposts and a rummage in me bits box if you need anything else.. Im in Musselburgh.
Keep your eyes open in Cash Converters etc etc... take a few pics around to places it may get palmed off to...
I'm in Fife so will keep my eyes peeled, terrible feeling when you realise it's gone.
I've also got bars, stems, posts, seats etc kicking about so just post what's needed.
Hope you get old faithful back though...
I've got a few bits and bobs as well if you need anything (front mech, Avid Juicy 3s, lock on grips and a few other bits in the spares box)
email in profile
with all the love here it might be a good time to mention the [url= http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/ ]The Bike Station[/url].
Really helped me out in the past and they can make use of pretty much anything!
pass it on
I have a disc front wheel, if you need it, I'm near Kirkcaldy, if you are coming over to the race tomorrow night, I could bring it down, otherwise we could try and find some way of getting it over to you. I have a square taper bb too.
Double post, I only have one of each.
Will mention it to others and keep an eye out myself Kunstler. Post up on here if you are in need of any specific bits and pieces, like others I have stuff in my spares box that could tide you over a while if you need to sort anything on Alasdair's bike.
Oh- and the most inspiring stolen bikes photos I've seen (they look familiar- where are they?), even a run of the mill bike is special when it offers you moments in those kinds of places.
I've also got a pile of spare parts I can kick in with to help get you going again (I'm also in Edinburgh). Definitely got wheels, forks, bars, stems etc. Not sure about a frame - what height are you?
It's nice when people are nice... 😀 top thread...
Sorry to hear of you're loss, have a couple of half worn folding schwalbe's sat in my spares box if they're any use to get you ... erm ... rolling! 🙂
If the Rockhopper is not the right frame size for you, then let me know since I have a Merlin Malt 2 in 19" or a Malt 1 in 17" sitting spare in the garage. You would be welcome to eiteher if they'd prove useful - located just outside Edinburgh
spend a bit of time hawking a photo round the shops in edinburgh....theyre all loosley linked and it may turn up being sold...usual places are the s/hand shops etc.and google alerts can be good also...never know it may just turn up!
I'm on my day off today and feeling rather groggy after catching up on rest after missing an entire night's sleep on Saturday. Amazing the difference in how I feel today from this time yesterday.
I am really overwhelmed and inspired by the responses in this thread. Thank you all.
As regards to things for the bike. Well I need to fit flats as I tried spds a few years ago but my amazing ongoing forgetfulness at junctions meant that I was still suffering bruises and embarrassment even after two weeks of trying them out.
As much as I'd love to give singlespeeding a go, I think I might be a bit slow and get a bit too sweaty between work appointments. Alasdair has given me everything for rear shifting just need to to sort out the front and I'll replace the Mary bars - seems very stretched not sure if its the bars, long stem or I'm shrinking.
You are good, good people STW.
bajsyckel: the photos were taken on a trip to Kinlochleven at the end of March. The first is at the top of the Devil's Staircase looking to Buchaille Etive Mor.
The second is above Mamore Lodge (Kinlochleven) if you go left out of the picture you follow the pipeline to Blackwater Dam and the Ciaran descent and go right from the photo towards Loch Eilde Mor and where I went that day: the munros of Sgurr Eilde Mor and Binnein Beag.
The last photo is looking to Bhein a'Bheithir (Balachulish) from a path around Glen Coe Lochan.
Kunstler. I' at the top of Easter road an I'm off work today give me a bell and I'll see if I've got anything that you can use.
077 6 5244 878
Edit, definitely got flatties and got some stem combos to try too
Wow, it's great how this thread went from depressing to thoroughly inspiring.
Great work guys, the Edinburgh biking community is great! 😀
Don't think I've got anything in my spares box that's not already been offered!!
Hope you're keeping the replacement inside now 😉
Fork wise if you are in need of some and think they will be suitable I have a pair of Manitou Nixon RTWD forks which are 115 - 145 mm adjustable travel, they have a 1 1/8 steerer and QR wheel fixing. They will need a little TLC as they haven't been used in a while but the only problem with them i know of is that one of the disk mounts has stripped threads, there may be good threads further in but i have not checked.
If you want them my email address in in my profile and i'll pop them in the post to you.
Slow getting back to this thread - I have felt rather overwhelmed by it all. In a good way.
I've given the Rockhopper a bit of a polish and fettled a few little bits that my very limited fettling skills allow.
Paul, I didn't see your post this afternoon and I was waiting on a friend coming this evening who was going to have a look at unfreezing the forks though unfortunately he wasn't able to make it tonight. I may have seen you around Easter Road - I'm on Albion Terrace, I've seen mtbers over the bridge a few times but never stopped to speak.
Those flats would be very handy, thanks.
Marti,if your throwing those bars away I'd gladly take them.
Cheers
Kunstier,
mail me al lockrobnkelatgmaildotcom and i'll get the pedals in the post for you.
Kunstler, i've mailed you on the pedals mate
If Marti doesnt get back to you ive bars mind if needed, and stem etc....
Just over the bridge in Fife so not a problem getting them to you.
dirtdiggler +1, spare bars if needed.
Thanks guys. I'll get back to you.
Kunstler - no probs mate. you have my number so give me a call if I can help. Out tonight but in thurs/fri.
Got a good selection of tools if you need help fitting anything.
Awesome thread - Biking community is alive and kicking
So many bikes getting stolen now a days, it's an absolute joke.
You should post details of your bike on the TrailScotland forum - http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums there's lot's of Edinburgh people on there.
Hope you get it back mate!
Paul, I'm pretty tied up with work until Sunday but I might give you a bell then. It might just be fairly busy round this part of town that afternoon though I'm doubtful on that.
Trekstar, a funny thing is I had to (kind of) steal my own bike on Friday. I used my Aldi 'five minutes while I pop in the shop' lock as I dived into Scotmid. When I came out I couldn't get the key to turn in the lock. Tried for ages. I went home (luckily just around the corner) got some oil and a spare key but the lock wasn't having it so as time was becoming an issue, I had to take a hack saw to it.
It took me five or ten minutes and in that time nobody asked me what I was doing. I was prepared and thought I might be challenged, but not at all.
Anyway, yesterday I had a change of plan for work that took me out to a shift at Broxburn. I chose to bike back along the canal and felt really good. I have been like a kid with a birthday bike and I was just enjoying rolling along. There was no time I that needed to be anywhere so I was thinking about this sudden new experience of single speeding and how I might make a proper test of it. I was spinning a bit on the canal towpath and though it was nice, peaceful and sedate, I thought that maybe I should try some hills.
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So I took a fairly direct route through Currie up to the Pentlands. The kirkgate was rather testing without gears but 'that which doesn't kill me etc...' pushed me on to Maiden's. At the top, a German girl came over and chatted. She offered to take a photo of me with the rockhopper and I told her how I came to be riding it. I tell everyone. Everyone smiles. She was pretty amazed too and told me that she rides in the alps but doesn't feel it's secure to leave a bike in Edinburgh. Hmm, yeah.
Finally coordinated that top.
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Soon enough (in retrospect, probably too soon) I'm bouncing down the other side and rolling up the glen to one of those 'I was just on my way home and somehow I'm now here' moments.
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The only braking was a minimal bit of front and some sticking pistons gave me cause to avoid using it too much. Eventually it got a bit too squeaky so when I got to Torduff Dam I had the wheel out and set about the callipers. It stopped the squeaking but it was a really stupid thing to have done at the top of a big steep hill - as I found out within ten seconds of setting off again and seeing a couple of people with several dogs coming up the road towards me. Pull the lever - nothing. Pump it frantically - still nothing. 'I'VE GOT NO BRAKES!' I shouted and watched them rugby tackle a labrador and a collie and bundle them onto the verge. I said sorry as I whooshed past. I didn't hear a response if there was one.
A bit more lever pumping and I had a workable brake again and some very valuable hindsight.
I'm not convinced about single speeding for me. I'll just stick to some stubble for now before I get gears on. But it is good to be on a bike. Oh yes.
Fantastic to see you out on your new bike.
Such a good thread, kudos to you all for getting Kunstler back on the hills.
Really glad to see you got it going again - there's life in the old girl yet!
This is the first time I've seen this thread. Can't be sure, but I think I saw a bike like the OP's yesterday in Polwarth, near the Santangello shop. Not 100% but certainly was similar - similar colour, think it was a Giant, and DEFINITELY had one of those panaracer tyres with the red stripe. I'll be extra vigiliant from now. Good luck!
MrK mkII - that's interesting. I've not seen a giant the same colour as mine anywhere other than in Norfolk a few years ago - and I ride about in Edinburgh a lot. I also notice when I see one of those tyres on other bikes. There is someone selling the same model and colour bike on Gumtree but it looks like new (I had changed a lot on the bike over the years). I ride along that street quite often. Yeah, please keep an eye out. I'll contact the police and let them know that it may have been ID'd. Thanks.
Alasdair - it's been brilliant. Going to try and get some maintenance done on it today. You wouldn't happen to know what year the Talas fork is? I've got a friend who's going to have a look at them but it's new territory for us (very much for me as I'm certainly not much of a mechanic).
Cheers again.
It's a 2004 RL, originally shipped with a Specialized Enduro. Are you getting any travel from it at all?
The fork doesn't budge - hopefully get a chance to take them apart and check the insides over with a friend but he has commitments that make his time precious at the moment. He did however help me look at the brakes yesterday. Spent a couple of hours on them - bled the back (still waiting on pads) and tried to free up the pistons on the front which are sticking but not with any success. They still stick and are noisy with it. It may be the seals that are caput. If anyone has an old deore calliper I'd be very grateful.
I've replaced a couple of broken spokes and now have some flat pedals. I have a chain in preparation of putting gears back on. I thought I'd run it as 1x9 to save on needing the extra hardware but realise that I need a chain device - I've looked at one on Superstar but it's to fit an internal bb. Confused. I also probably need a chain ring.
I'm waiting to hear back from the police - seems I have to chase them up.
Been lurking on here for ages, just signed up to say what a great example this is of people just being nice!
I've got a spare deore front caliper and lever you can have for the cost of postage, fully working afaik. From around 2004 I think.
Murf - that would be fantastic. Thanks very much. I don't see an email in your profile so could you email me please - robertjtuck (at) gmail.com. Cheers.
I've finally had the police call this morning for photos and a detailed description and are currently 'making enquiries' of folk on the stair but I'm not sure who's going to be around at 9am on a Tuesday morning. They did tell me about the current drive focussing on bike theft and that there has been a large increase in numbers of stolen bikes in Edinburgh.
So be extra careful folks!
Slight highjack but just saw this on Edinburgh Gumtree
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/scott-bike-frame-for-sale/102875362
I have a pair of Manitou stance flow 1.5" if they are any good to you.
Great thread, very refreshing to see people pulling together.
Email sent....
Cheers murf - and welcome to STW.
That's interesting dunsapie - bike nicely planted in the turf too. Maybe he really knew what he was doing by avoiding turning the bike upside down. Maybe...
I'm hoping to have the Talas fork dissected and see if it's servicable. I might get back to you on the Manitou if it's not, thanks very much.
I've now replaced a crank that was making unsettling cracking noises and am now very keen to get gears on as soon as possible because the chain keeps wanting to derail from the tensioner. This makes me nervous. I don't want an over the bars in town (or anywhere I guess).
It's become a little less straightforward as I now need a replacement gear hanger. Has anyone got one for a 2006 Rockhopper?
I'm also in need of a chain device if anybody has one. I know they're not cheap and I'd be prepared to give you something for it - making some financial adjustments this month as a running bike is a bit of a priority.
Cheers
Sorry I never got back to you about those bars, haven't been on here in a while. You can still have them if needed, best to mail me direct, emails in profile