Stolen Fuji Bedford

Let me begin with the end.  I still have my Fuji Bedford, even though it was stolen.

In May 2008 it was taken off of the spare tire rack of my car.  My family and I were on our way home from Charlottesville Community Bikes where I was volunteering that day.  We wanted to stop and hang out on the downtown mall.  We lived close by, but it was still daylight, and I found a parking spot next to the police station.  I did have the thought to put my lock around the bike and the rack, but I didn't do it.  I thought it would be safe enough that it was parked in public next to the police station.  

A couple of hours later as we were hanging with friends by the community chalk board, I noticed a kid I knew and his friend again.  I had seen them that afternoon at the bike shop, and saw them again just as we arrived on the downtown mall.  The friend did not have a bike when I first saw them, but now he did.  He was in an upright riding position which I thought was a bit strange for a kid his age.  Usually they ride a hybrid or mountain bike, not one with the kind of bars that my Fuji Bedford 3 speed has.  I looked a little closer... IT WAS MY BIKE!!  I could make out 'Fuji' on the back of the saddle.  

I got nervous and started having a bunch of mixed feelings.  While trying to think about what exactly to do, I started walking toward them.  They were just casually making their way down the pedestrian mall.  But then they turned onto a street, and I knew that they would start riding soon.  So I started running, and yelled the kids' name who I knew.  His friend realized the bike he was on must be mine so he bolted.  I ran chasing them, but of course they got away.  In desperation I immediately called 911.  I felt like a little girl, or a big weeny whining about my bike being stolen to the operator, all out of breath, but I wanted my damn bike back!  

I made a report to a police officer who patrols the pedestrian mall on a bicycle.  He really could have cared less though about my bike.  He dutifully took the report, but I could tell he didn't have much hope I would get it back.  After he told me I would get a call in about a week or so to follow up on the incident he asked if I had any questions.  I thought for a moment, realizing I definitely would not find my bike after a week had passed, and asked, "Can't you just go to the kids house?"  He said, "Yeah, I guess so."  

Thankfully I did know the kids name, not the one who was on my bike, but his friend.  It turns out that I had taught him a few piano lessons at his school (a special school for kids with behavior issues that makes it hard for them to be in mainstream school).  I did that almost a year before this incident.  I couldn't remember his last name, but the school director helped me with that.  Then I called the police to give it to them.  They did indeed go to his house, and then he told them where his friend lived.  About 3 1/2 hours later, around 11:45pm, I received a call from the police that my bike was found and I could go pick it up.  I did search for it on my own after they took it.  A friend of mine took me in his car, and we drove around for about an hour through town looking in ditches etc... for it.  Its funny that the weather was very nice until my bike was stolen.  Then it began pouring rain relentlessly the whole time we were driving around.  

It was clear weather again when I went to the kid's house to get my bike.  His Dad was there and said he knows these kids bring back stolen bikes all the time.  But he just would throw them behind a nearby dumpster so they wouldn't get caught.  I wish he would tell them how it is wrong to steal!  The officer did not want me to press charges or go further.  He thought I should just be happy that I got my bike back without it being damaged.  Almost a year later I would find out that he lied to the kids' parents by saying that I had agreed not to do anything as long as I got my bike back.  I had never said anything like that to him.

In fact, I definitely was going to do something, and I did.  At this point, not only had these kids stolen my bike and gotten away with it, but they had even been caught by the police and would still have gotten away with it!  In my own conscience I did not want that to happen.  I went forward with pressing charges.  

Since they were under 18 (17 and 15), they had the choice to go to juvenile, or go through a restorative justice program.  They chose the restorative justice program.  They had to meet weekly with someone to talk through what they did, why they did it, how it was wrong, etc...  I did not get updated very well during this time though regarding what was happening.  I thought that maybe nothing had happened.  Until, almost a year later, I received a call to set up a meeting with the two boys and their parents.  

During the meeting the restorative justice people did a great job mediating, and keeping the focus on the actions of the boys.  I was able to tell the kids how what they did effected me, my feelings about it.  They told me how it happened.  They had to apologize in person, and also handed me handwritten apologies.  I learned that they had indeed been meeting very often for the past months with restorative justice, and they had to do some kind of community service after our meeting as well.  

I don't know if this consequence made a difference for them or not.  I hope it did.  At least they were not allowed to get away with stealing somebody else's bicycle.  I don't think the community at large puts as much importance on bike theft as they should.  It is about more than a bike.  What would be next for these kids?  If they are allowed to get away with this, what kind of limits would they start pushing ultimately?  I am happy that I went forward and did not give up on seeing some kind of consequence through with them.  The meeting that I was able to have with them, even though it was a year later, did provide closure all the way around, for them and for me.  

Stained Glass Bicycle Wheel

The drawing I sent to my Nono.

The finished product

A while ago I rebuilt the wheels of my Fuji Royale II.  It had the gold anodized ukai rims.  The rear one was warped a bit, and luckily I found a NOS gold ukai to replace it on ebay.  But what to do with the old warped one?  Should I really just throw it away? 

No!  On my ride to New Jersey last September I was inspired by some bicycle art I saw in Lambertville to have my Nono (grandfather) do a stained glass piece inside of it.  I put twelve spokes in it, and shipped it to him when I got home.  He has been doing stained glass for a few years now.  I drew up the design and included it with the rim.  It looks exactly like my drawing.  He did an awesome job don't you think?  He had to build his own template of wood to support the glass as he built it up.  There was a hole in the center to accomodate the hub, and the template laid on top of a hollow box about 4" tall so it would lay flat. The spokes served as a support system for the soldering, allowing for the open space between the glass and rim.

I brought it home after our visit with them in Illinois last week.  It is now displayed proudly in my window, ready to be shown off to everyone who visits.  I have a few steel Ukai rims waiting for a similar fate.

Racing the Sun

5:15am-  Wake up, shower, stretch.  Dress, base layers.  Prepare water, food.  85 miles from Champaign, IL to Springfield, IL... I can do this.  It is dark.

6:30am-  Breakfast in the hotel lobby, coffee, toast, juice,banana.  The sun meets me and my Fuji Royale II at the start.

7:00am-  On the road, heading directly west.  Next stop Monticello, IL.  9mph winds from the N/NW.  It is cold.  Hazy, don reflective gear, turn on tail lights, put on headlight.  So far so good.

9:00am-  Arrive at the Brown Bag Deli in Monticello.  On schedule.  The place is immediately familiar and I remember that I was here in 2003 after the wedding rehearsal of a good friend.  I eat a fabulous toasted turkey salad bagel and coffee.  Missing my friend, wish we had time to see them on this trip, but it is too far to drive.  The sun keeps traveling.

10:00am-  Back on the road.  My route takes me through Allerton Park outside of Monticello, where my friend was married.  Memories.  I ride by the statue of the Sun Singer, which Robert Allerton had made and placed in the park.  He originally saw it in Stockholm and wanted a smaller version for his yard, but the maker made it for him in original size so he had to find a bigger space for it.  I pass a buffalo farm.  It seems they are all looking at me.  They look strong and healthy.  Still on schedule. Still in front of the sun.

11:15am-  On 1400N heading directly west again.  At a non-descript intersection, checking my compass because the road signs are turned around.  Check in with my wife, take off a layer.  I'm surprised I have a cell phone connection.  I feel like Tom Hanks in Cast Away.  These fields are vast.  I can see for miles and miles around.  I am alone.  Sing when you ride far and the wind is pushing you back, and you are alone and it is cold.  It helps.  I think of the state of our country, farming, respect of our land, how we return to this very ground, dirt.  I think of the Native Americans, war, disparity of thought.  I hit gravel, wet from yesterday's rain, slogging through for a couple of miles in this takes a toll on speed and comfort.  The sun and I are neck and neck.

1:30pm-  Latham, IL The Korn Krib Resaurant built in and around grain storage bins.  I use the bathroom, and refill water.  No time to sit and eat here.  Have to keep moving.  Beginning to tire more.  Dogs!  The young one is fearless, comes toward me non-stop.  I dismount so he thinks twice.  He tries to get behind me for the attack but I turn to keep him at bay.  He is ruthless.  I walk by the house till I get far enough to satisfy him that I'm not a threat.  I get on bigger roads to avoid more dogs, and think they'll be even smoother, but I was wrong.  Hard packed gravel, but bumpy.  Takes a toll on my energy, slowing to less than 10mph.  I plod along, hurting, falling morale.  Finally, Hwy 54!  I'm less than 5 miles from my childhood home.  But the sun has taken the lead.

3:45pm-  A second wind.  Ride through the old neighborhood, see the old house.  Haven't been here since 1995.  Family no longer owns this house since parents divorced back then.  I lived there from 1978-1995, half of my life.  It pains me that I can't come back.  It is for sale, $159,000.  The trees my father planted are large now, forest-like.  I had to ride my bike here this time instead of just drive by.  Going slower gives the memories time to be remembered.

4:50pm-  Arrive at my destination.  Time to go in to visit my grandparents with my wife and two daughters.  Time to stop looking to the past and keep moving forward.  Special times, creating new memories.  It is dark.  The sun wins, barely.

First Century Ride

Well I finally did it.  I rode 100 miles (at one time).  I've had this goal since about 2007.  That is the same year we had our first child, and it has been difficult to ride consistently enough to achieve it.  However, I realized that with the riding I started doing twice a week at the velodrome in August, then my 60 mile ride to Jersey in September, and 3 times weekly riding my daughter to pre-school, and my Tuesday and Thursday 20 mile rides, I might actually be able to do a 100 mile ride.  And I did. 

We happened to be visiting my wife's parent's house in Maryland in October, and it turned out that we would be there at the same time that Salisbury University holds their famous Seagull Century ride.  I immediately signed up.  There was only about a week and a half before the day of the ride.  I didn't know much about it yet, but I soon learned that this is a humongous event, with over 8,000 riders participating.  They have been doing this ride for over 20 years.  We had a tough time finding a hotel, but we ended up getting a room at a Comfort Inn that was anything but.  I'm not going to spend time complaining about that though. 

We woke up to a beautiful morning, a perfect day for a ride.  It really was, despite the 20+ mph winds that developed.  The forecast had been calling for that so it was no surprise.  One hazard I had not thought about until now though is to watch out for large falling tree limbs.  One fell about 25 feet in front of me.  There was nobody underneath it at that point, but there could have been with so many of us out there.  I was next in line, but I had plenty of time to stop, get off the bike, and drag it off the road.  It was quite large, and would have hurt.  Anyway... the route is relatively flat, and that made it a good choice for my first century.  I chose the Assateague route which took us to the Eastern Shore, which was beautiful.  Unfortunately I was riding alone.  It would have been nice to have had a friend along for the ride, but I don't have any cycling friends in Maryland (yet).  I wasn't shy though, and introduced myself to some people.  A group of 5 guys passed me at one point, and I sped up to stay with them.  I joined their paceline, and they welcomed me in.  Most of them were Navy guys, and I talked most to Andy.  I continued on my way when they stopped to use the bathroom.  Later I met a fellow named Peter.  I rode up to him because he was wearing a UVA jersey.  I thought I might know him, or at least know someone he knows since we lived in Charlottesville for so long, but it turned out he went to school there years ago, and hadn't been there in while.  It was still good conversation. 

The rest stops were excellent.  There was no shortage of food or drink, everyone was very encouraging, the bathroom lines went very quick and people were courteous.  The organization of this event was stellar.  I rode the fuji opus iii, which was a good choice because it is so light and fast.  It cut through the wind very well.  I considered taking the Royale II, but it has the fenders (which I wouldn't have needed) and my pack, and is a bit heavier.  It was nice to get a chance to ride the Opus which I haven't ridden in about a year I think.

It feels good to have finally reached that goal.  It was nice too that I wasn't completely dead after doing it.  I felt good all the way through, and had energy to spare afterward.  That means I really was prepared well for it.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.  I didn't take any photos because I didn't want to carry the camera.  I just wanted to ride.  I also had forgotten my garmin device, but I was glad I did.  It helped me enjoy the ride more without worrying about how fast I was going, or what my mileage was, etc...