I believe I have had more bikes stolen from me than anyone I know. Not that I did an exhaustive poll, but the number of thefts is significant. I’m sure the number is also a factor of the long exposure time, as I have used a bike for transportation since I’ve been an adult, beginning at college in 1981 at SUNY Binghamton to present day. Here is a list of full size (adult) bikes I have owned:
My first bike I can recall was a child’s one speed. It was black and white, but I painted it red with red devil paint. One of my favorite activities when I was alone and the weather was good would be to randomly ride around my neighborhood until I felt lost and then to keep riding till I recognized a street and could find my way home. Car traffic was not an issue back then (1970ish) in Massapequa. I have an innately bad sense of direction and this activity really taught me my neighborhood and how to get around.
Red Schwin – still have it! (1976?)
Motebecan – first 10 speed – used in college and for multiday tour to Salem MA. I think I gave this bike back to my brother-in-law (whom I think gave it to me) or to my brother, Sheldon, or perhaps it was stolen – honestly, I can’t remember.
Specialized RockHopper (1987?) – This was the main bike I had during my grad school years at the San Francisco Art Institute. I bought it new and started consciously considering myself a bike commuter with this bike. Like my childhood, it was riding a bike in San Francisco (and using maps to navigate) that I finally learned how to navigate the city. I also toured Netherlands and Germany with this bike in 1989, but it was stolen in Hamburg Germany outside a friend’s apartment in 1989, days before I returned home from a 9-month stay.
Bianchi Mountain Bike – I believe this bike was a gift from Laura Poitras, but perhaps I bought it from her. After returning from Germany to SF with no bike, she had pity on me. I had this bike and rode it during the Gulf War bike protest which became the first Critical Mass ride; stolen from house (garage was left open by contractors) in Ditmas Park in May of ’97
Fisher Nirvana –I bought this bike in May 1997 from Ace Cycles on Courtelyou in Ditmas Park. I used it all over NYC and toured (multi-day) Berkshires. I believe it was stolen in downtown Manhattan in 2011, most likely while I was working. I paid $700 for it (likely with some add-ons). I loved this bike, which was bought when Fisher was still independent, I believe. I remember it being touted as a commuter bike, with thinner tires but Mtn bike sixed wheels.
Mongoose Folding bike – I bought this bike for my wife as a wedding present, so she could bring it into her office. I believe it was eventually stolen, but I am not sure and anyway, it was not technically my bike. And if I start counting Elizabeth’s stolen bikes, this list will get even longer!
Cannondale – I had this bike for about a week and bought it from Bicycle Habitat to replace the stolen Fisher Nirvana. At this time (July 2011), I began working at BlackRock on 52nd Street. I would park this bike on 52nd St, between Park and Madison, and on my third day (?) of work, the bike was stolen!
Trek FX 3.1 – I bought this to replace the Cannondale that I had for only a week! I bought it from Bicycle Habitat in Brooklyn on 5th Ave for 650, but with add-ons (rack, pedals, etc.), it cost $979. This bike served me so well in NYC for over 13 years. On Friday, Nov 8, 2024, it was stolen outside the Dodge YMCA on Atlantic Ave as I was swimming. The police (Detective Keller) reviewed surveillance footage from the Y and saw the person that stole my bike. The thief stole a 2nd bike as well!
Bianchi Volpe – bought for ½ Iron Man in 2013 – still have this awesome bike. It served me well on the NYS Empire Trail (Brooklyn to Buffalo) with Joe in May/June 2023, the GAP/C&O trail (Pittsburgh to DC) with 718 Outdoors and Elizabeth in July 2024, and the 718 Outdoors Catskills tour in September 2024
REI Retrospec – After my Trek was stolen, I began using my son Miles’s bike to get around town.
Trek FX 3.1 – While I was looking on Craigslist for the bike that was stolen in Nov 2024, I located a perfect replacement, which was the original owner and also purchased from Bicycle Habitat. For only $275, I was able to replace like with like and this is now my “get around town” bike.