Happy Ending to a Bummer Bike Story

Three weeks ago, my new Vermont cronie and I were standing on the balcony getting some fresh air and escaping the unruliness that was taking place inside. We are chatting when all of a sudden you hear those four little words that you can only hope isn't the case; "my bike is gone." Shit.

 

Really? seemed to be the only stupid question that came to mind. Immediately followed by, are you sure? And that's definitely where you parked it? Ummm, REALLY helpful questions Erin. But what do you say in that first moment to someone when they realize their shit has been stolen? I mean "that sucks" or "they never find them" is kind of premature and heartless in that moment. Not to mention, way less helpful than the previous foolishness.

So yes, off she goes in search of the bike. Up and down and around the block. Up the street and over to the ever so helpful Polizei. No luck. Super bummer. And it had been a kickin' Saturday and this was supposedly a kickin' bike. Bamboo even! Bogus.

Fast forward to the next week. I'm having dinner with my girlfriend and her hubby and they tell me this amazing story about how not one, but TWO of their bikes were stolen and RECOVERED! How they got them back of course was confirmed by the officers that what they did was appropriate and legal...the police certainly don't get paid to do these things so we need to take maters into our own hands apparently...and it was foolproof. Brilliant, thanks guys!!! Way to pay it forward.

So of course I share this with my friend, the victim, and assure her that it will turn up because let's face it, how many people cruise around in Switzerland on a bike made of bamboo? Seriously. Titanium, steel maybe? Errrrr. Yeah, super safe. ;) Not to mention that if the boneheaded thief rode it around town or parked at the Bahnhof surely one of her spies would have reported back and acted on the new knowledge.

Fortunately it didn't come to that point.

Fast forward to TODAY. I'm walking home from my studio continuously staring at every bike I see as I have been for the last three weeks. Oh my gosh?! Get the hell out of here...could it possibly be?! .......it is!!! It's her bike!!! I found it!!! Unfrickenbelieveable.

Ring, Ring. Guess what I have?! It' has two wheels, bamboo and a basket. Its parked BEHIND the house you parked in front of.... (like that's a likely place to move it!) And the priceless response was: umm, can you take a picture of it?!?!

Floored by this question, and after I stole it back to safety, of course I took a picture.

The moral of the story boys and girls, is just because it's locked doesn't mean someone can't move it to the back of their building and not tell you so it doesn't get stolen. And good things happen to good girls who love their unique bike made out of soft porous lumber.

Much love to everyone who made this possible and the faith that we would recover this bike from what we knew was a really safe street.