2 PM-2:40 PM BIKE STOLEN IN BRIXTON
I was standing up in a queue in Brixton...; when I first looked up my bike which I'd chained up to a green post outside of the Beehive pub...was there...though, lying down on the floor(maybe, I didn't chain it up, properly?); and, the next time, I looked up...the bike was completely 'vanished'...?!
I looked everywhere all around me...; thinking I might see who the perpetrator(s) were...but, saw nobody...
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REPORTED BIKE MISSING TO THE POLICE
At first, I tried going down to Brixton police station to report it...; but, they told me I must go home to get the necessary details...bike frame reference nos./-etc.
So, I took the bus home...; and, then, got the details...returned back to Brixton police station...only to be told I must go back home...and, report the missing bike on phone number: 101 (non emergency police line).
I returned home...rang 101...gave them the details...then, was passed on to somebody else...who confirmed some further details; then, was told they would look into it.
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NOT TOO HOPEFUL I'M EVER GOING TO GET MY BIKE RETURNED BACK TO ME, AGAIN
Frankly, I'm none too hopeful that I'm ever likely to see my bike, again; after all, on the streets of London, I have lost so many bikes to date...seriously, it must all amount to over 20+...! I never got back a single 'one', yet; whether I reported it or not.
What I do very deeply regret...because, I'm unemployed/broke...therefore, cannot afford to buy a 'new' bike...is I should have brought some insurance...which I did not. If I had done that...I would, at least, have gotten back some money to replace it with a 'new' bike. Well, maybe, next time, I guess...and, especially so if the bike I brought is really expensive...this one was the most expensive I had ever brought in all of my entire life. So, I miss not just the bike...but, also, all of that money.
£350.00 Carrera, Subway Two, Black
£160.00 2 x £80 each heavy duty bike chain locks
£ 80.00 3 year bike care plan (labour/not parts)
=
£590.00 Total
Thus, constituting a massive financial loss to me. The most expensive bike I ever brought before cost just £200.00 in range, instead; and, this bike had cost me 3 times that sum!
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GOOD LESSONS
What I did learn when I went and brought myself a £350.00 Carrera bike...is the 'quality' is that much higher...in terms of ride quality; and, also,...
- the bike tends to break down so much less
- it runs pretty much 'puncture' free
- when in good order; it moved fairly 'fast'
I believe I owned that bike for around 2 or so years; and, as far as I'm concerned having had that experience was, really and truly, worth it. Meaning, I would like to replace it with the same exact model that I really 'loved' riding...far more than any other bike I'd experienced having before.
I'm thinking of going to Brixton; then, paying for it using monthly instalments. However, it may take some time to save up to get all of the other accessory gear...such as bike locks/bike warranty/-etc.
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BAD LESSONS
Looking back, now, I can see where, in a way, my loosing the bike was really all due to my own fault.
I was totally negligent...
1> I knew the bike had fallen down flat onto the floor...; this would make it, instantly, noticeable to anyone passing by...including, 'bike thieves'.
However, I had chained up bikes before...which had fallen onto the floor...but, because they were chained up...I just left it there like that...and, there was no problem...it was still there when I returned.
2> I had two heavy Kryptonite bike chain locks...and, I should have tried chaining up both wheels...as well as, the frame. Unfortunately, I got really 'lazy'...and, instead, just used just one chain, alone, tying up the bike to the 'thick' lamp post...and, around the top of the bike frame.
Had I bothered with chaining up both wheels...or, even, a single wheel; then, even if it had not been properly chained to the lamp post...nobody could easily ride off with it...as both wheels simply wouldn't turn. If one wheel was locked...then, they would have to slowly walk off with it...but, using only 'one' wheel to move it. Thus, it was a really big mistake to leave both wheels unchained...massive mistake, actually...through just not having enough time/patience.
3> There were proper bike stands over across the road; but, me, being in such a dreadful hurry...I didn't bother to even think about using those.
After all, previously, I had chained my bike to the very same lamp post...and, it was never stolen, yet.
4> I had read about buying bike insurance...; but, for some reason, decided I just couldn't afford it...; instead, I wanted to save that money to go and do something else.
Buying insurance, always seems a little bit mad...when nothing is going wrong; it's only when things go wrong...that's when you have the very deepest regret that you did NOT get any proper insurance.
CONCLUSION
Make no mistake about it, I really miss my bike...; I miss loosing all of my money invested in it even more; and, the whole idea of having to start up saving to get another bike...honestly, makes me feel a bit 'sick'...what if the next bike gets stolen, as well(gotta buy some insurance, like it or not)?!
