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OK, I've seen a lad twice now with what I think is an 'incongruous' bike - first was a very quick spot maybe a month ago when I was getting off the train and the second was yesterday when I saw the same person getting on so managed to get a slightly better look.
He was late teens/early twenties and dressed by JD Sports. The bike was a silver Zesty 314 (2011?) but with Kashima-coated forks which would be a significant upgrade.
Yes, it might be unconscious bias and all that but it still seems pretty unlikely that he's the genuine owner.
So, what would you do? I know there's another, similar thread on the go but the difference is that I don't know for certain that the bike's stolen.
Thanks for any input!
Let it go,
Can't judge its dodgy because of his dress sense.
Also to be fair a zesty is pretty chavvy anyway. 😉
If in doubt, rat 'em out.
report to police if only to raise the number of stolen bikes reported to the police by 1.
If you see him again, go and chat to him about the bike in a way that makes you look as though you're really enthusiastic. Ask him how it handles off road, that sort of thing - throw in some technical questions that he may answer incorrectly.
Based on his answers you might be able to get a better picture of whether it is dodgy or not.
Ask him something about it, maybe just say it's a really cool bike. Then, if you think he really has nicked it tell him it needs some adjustment - maybe bottom bracket or something like that. Ask him where he might get it serviced, maybe recommend a place [Halfords - LOL]. Maybe you can even find an excuse to turn it over and snap the frame number I'll just look this BB up on the internet for you etc etc.
Make a few phone calls or visits to the local bike shops and suggest to them they take the frame number and look that up on nicked bike databases when it's brought in.
My 2 cents
Thanks, guys - problem with striking up conversation is that I get off where he gets on (or v occasionally the stop after) so there's no real scope for a quick chat.
I think reporting to the police is the best bet - can't help thinking, particularly with the upgraded forks, that it's someone's pride and joy and I'd hate to think I did nothing about it.
...apart from point the finger at a potentially innocent person of course 😕
If he's travelling by train he can afford a nice bike.
maybe he bought it off a bloke in the pub, or maybe its his dad's pride and joy and he's just borrowing it without dad knowing, or maybe he's spent all his clothing allowance on his bike.
Actually its times like this that a stolen bike register wold come in useful, a database of stolen bikes with frame numbers and descriptions would enable the police to narrow it down...
... is there such a thing?