Stolen bicycle!

Have you seen me?

Any impressions I had of Singapore being a crime-free country were shattered last week when I discovered that my bicycle had been stolen. Part of me if saddened by this news. I bought the bike in 2000 for my first (and so far only) RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). That was an incredible journey taken with a few of my closest friends, including Wes (seen below).

Me and Wes somewhere in eastern Iowa, August 2000

I also rode this bike to the Boulder County Recorder office to sign the paperwork that officially married H and me over nine years ago. This bike was my daily commuter for years in Boulder, giving endless joy on my way first to the Geography Department, then to my office on East Campus. It got me up Boulder's hills, kept me out of the snow, and took me past prairie dogs.

Then, it was taken from outside our building sometime over the past few weeks. Someone must have cut the lock. Now it's gone forever.

Before you cry for me, though, let me tell a funny story about karma.

I actually haven't ridden the bicycle in Singapore because the rear chain guard broke in transit (it was the original, and the plastic shattered). So, the first time I jumped on it after assembling it, I went through my gears and went too far, rolling the chain into the gap between the spokes and the rear gear hub. It stopped me dead in my tracks and bent the derailleur. After much effort extracting the chain from the spokes and that space and pulling the derailleur into place, I realized that I had done more damage than I thought, and that it was going to cost some serious money to fix. I delayed because it's probably cheaper to buy a new bike. Plus, the bus stops right in front of our house and drops me right by my office. Plus, the National University of Singapore, or NUS, is also known as the National University of Stairs. It is built around and on top of a sizable hill, making it a challenge to get to campus. Not to mention the traffic.

So, while I miss my bicycle, I also feel for the thief. Here's a list of old parts needing to be replaced - tires, brakes, brake cables, chain, front derailleur, (now) rear derailleur, right gear shifter. About the only thing new on it was the seat, purchased two years ago. (Why did I ship it all the way to Singapore? Because we were under the shipping minimum, so it was almost free.) Plus, the first time the thief goes through the gears, the chain is going to catch again, probably leading to serious face plant. I mean, I hope no one is hurt, but there is a certain bit of karma in this tale that you have to appreciate.

So, goodbye old friend. (After some repairs) may you provide your next owner with 10 more years of joy!