Buy a new bike wheel or a new bike?

May 22, 2009 11:30 AM

Yet another sad bike story in Chicago. Can you help me find a new wheel or a new bike?

Awesomeness today as I left my apartment. I stepped outside to find my bike's front wheel missing. Stolen is a better word. I have since been scouring the internet for a replacement to no avail. I called Village Cycle, where I bought the bike. They can replace it for $100 and some change. That just sounds ridiculous to me. The bike only cost $300. It's a silly Trek 820 mountain bike, 26" wheels. So, my question is this: Do you know a place in Chicago that might have a front wheel (used is a-ok with me) for more like $50-$60? And if not, I've sort of been wanting to trade this bike out for a hybrid anyway, this is just a little sooner than I'd wanted...thanks wheel thief. Any recommendations on a place that sells quality, cheap hybrids? As I enjoy using my bike as my primary mode of transportation, I need to do this ASAP. And if it matters, I am a girl. Tend to type like a dude, so, for the record.

BONUS QUESTION: Can anyone explain to me the bike black market in Chicago???? What is going to happen to my front wheel that makes stealing it worth it? Every biker I know in this city has had some piece, if not their entire bike stolen. I've had a bike stolen before, hence I don't buy expensive bikes. I'm just glad this time they only got a wheel. How sad is that?

posted by smeater44 to sports, hobbies, & recreation (10 answers total)

Someone has to be getting front wheels on the cheap, because this scene is not terribly uncommon. Good luck!
posted by filthy light thief at 11:39 AM on May 22, 2009

What happens is you have a bike locked by the front wheel, and another beside it locked by the real wheel. Dislocate the front wheel which is locked, take the front wheel from the one which is locked by only the back wheel, combine the two, and hey, you've got a bike. Anyway, since you're in a major city, there should be a used bike shop somewhere that can provide you with a used wheel. However, wheel+tire+inner-tube...$100 isn't unreasonable if new. What you want is used. Look around Kijiji and Craigslist and any local biking website forums for a cheap bike you can use as a donor.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 11:47 AM on May 22, 2009

What is going to happen to my front wheel that makes stealing it worth it?

Well:

Do you know a place in Chicago that might have a front wheel (used is a-ok with me) for more like $50-$60?

It's not that different than cars, really. Bikes are probably easier to sell whole than in parts, but people do have a need for replacements (I've taco-ed more than one front tire when I had to stop/swerve to avoid a collision), and it's possible that someone might try to sell your own front wheel back to you unless you have stickers or visibly unique/recognizable parts on it. In the future, either use the quick-release lever (almost all bikes have them) to lock your front wheel with the rest of your bike using your U-lock, or get a chain/cable lock to secure the front wheel onto the frame. (I'm assuming that you didn't do these things already; if you did, my sympathies.) Thieves are looking for the easy score, and having to defeat two different types of locks might encourage them to look for easy prey.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:49 AM on May 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Chances are that your wheel is being sold downtown somewhere gritty for something like $5 or $10 so that the person who stole it can buy drugs. Typically even bikes are sold for that much, as the thief wants their fix at whatever price. Some cyclists who have had their bikes stolen will go into that area to either look for their original bike or to buy another one that has been stolen from someone else on the cheap.

Not that it will change what happened to your front wheel, but you can get yourself a tire leash from Kryptonite (or elsewhere)that will attach your quick-release wheel to your bike frame, to prevent this from happening again.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:54 AM on May 22, 2009

As always, Sheldon has the answer.
posted by mkb at 12:07 PM on May 22, 2009

You can buy used 26" wheels all day on craigslist and ebay -- you'll be back on the road in no time. And once you get a new one, head to your local bike shop and ask for a bolt skewer to replace the quick-release skewer, thus preventing someone from stealing your wheel in the future.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 12:07 PM on May 22, 2009

Here's a 26" wheel for $50 on chicago craigslist.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 12:08 PM on May 22, 2009

That's sadly the late Sheldon. Who still has all the answers.
posted by sully75 at 12:25 PM on May 22, 2009

While the Maxwell Street Market isn't what it used to be, it is still a place to go buy back your stolen property.

http://www.centerstagechicago.com/grocery/maxwell.html

If you see my Canondale M500 with teh toungueless seat let me know, someone cut the lock and wandered off with it a year ago. Sigh.
posted by Ponderance at 12:29 PM on May 22, 2009

Unless they've changed their policies along with their new facilities, Working Bikes will let you poke around their warehouse, as long as you look like you know what you're doing. You should have no problem finding a front wheel and tire there.

If you'd like to buy a bike from them, show up half an hour before they open to get a good place in line, and bring a friend.
posted by hydrophonic at 4:26 PM on May 22, 2009