atchison@kent.net
My bike isn't really special... but I liked it alot because it had a smaller frame which is good for me because I used to freestyle so I still like to have a small enough bike to make it maneurverable in the air and stuff (I thought I was awesome because I could jump a fullsize upright cereal box without the aid of a ramp or anything). I just got my bike ready for a trip in the summer and I left it outfront to show it off (DUMB). So of course I came out a half an hour later and all that was left where the frame bags. Who ever stole it must have thought they were getting a cool bike because I had it smothered in VANS stickers and stuff like that and because it had yellow front shocks that I had slapped a ROCKSHOX sticker on... but I am sure that they were dissapointed when they went to ride it and discovered it was as heavy as some smaller cars and the rims were bent to all hell.........

In the mean time I got an old fullsize ralleigh frame out of someones garbage and sandblasted/painted it, and fitted it with your standard shimano riggings... Even though this new bike was way lighter than my old bike, and most of my friends thought it was cool... I hated it.. I couldn't jump worth a damn and the thing was ugly as sin.

2 MONTHS later I received a telephone call from the local police (Of course I was scared to death when my mother told me there was an officer on the phone that needed to speak with me) But I took all of the courage that was in me and answered the phone. I turns out he wasn't calling to arrest me at all... They had received a complaint from some old man that saw a kid heave something off of his dock, so the police went there the next day and fished it up. MY BIKE! They brought it right over and I was happy to discover that my bike was the same as I had left it (a bit more muddy) but was now equiped with a Bassano racing seat, and new aluminum rims (straight as an arrow). This is why I love the man who stole my bike... because I now have learned to appreciate what I had, and I have a new seat.

JASON ATCHISON

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