Dawes Cycles Ambassador

, 22 Sept 2019, about 16:00
  • Colour

    Dark blue

  • Frame Number

    Unknown

  • Stolen From

    ,

  • Stolen When

    22 Sept 2019, about 16:00

  • Crime Reference Number

    CRI00223260

Bike Description

Dark blue Dawes Ambassador from ca. 1983 but in good working condition. Very large men's frame - about 25 inches from bottom bracket to seat post. Brooks saddle. Rather rusted sprung rear rack. Weinmann 36-spoke 27 x  1 1/4" (16 x 630) alloy rims. Stainless steel mudguards. Main frame is Dawes own-brand "Supertube" but front forks are Reynolds 531. Brake calipers are Weinmann Type 370 (alloy) and the brake levers are Weinmann alloy too. Handlebar is Sakae Custom Road Champion alloy (flattish, no drop handles). The rear derailleur is Shimano Positron FH; if my reading of the Web is right, the Positron FH should have come with a Shimano Uniglide hub and chain, but I see no evidence to confirm that. The gear lever says Shimano Positron 12 on it, but there's only 1 lever and the bike is actually a 6-speed. The gear lever is positioned on the handlebar stem, which is the one thing I find inconvenient. The pedal cranks are alloy, by Solida. The pedals themselves are a (probably generic) platform type with blocks of rubber each side and no metal teeth.

Theft Description

Taken from side of country road: Stockley Lane near Oakenshaw, County Durham. Was locked with built-in lock (bar between rear forks) so not ridable and was probably lifted into vehicle at roadside.

Recovery Description

I found my bike on eBay, 3 weeks after it was stolen, using a saved search for the brand name (Dawes) and limiting the search to bikes for sale within 50 miles. I reported it to the police, who were very interested in the possibility of tracking down the thief and anyone who knowingly handled it, but they were unable to get the seller's name from eBay with any speed. I therefore bought it. It turned out to be for sale from a local shop, who appear to have bought it from a walk-in. The police are looking into it and it will be interesting to see whether manage to follow the trail back.