We have a fleet of old used bikes that we keep on the porch under our house (or most often just in the yard). They are not fine bikes, but all of them work and are useful. Sometimes, the bikes are used by my kids' friends and just left in Seaside or Watercolor or elsewhere, and sometimes strangers just come into the yard and take them.
Over the years, we learned to put our name and phone number on the bikes with a permanent marker. When they get discarded in someone's yard or along 30A, we will invariably get a phone call that one of our bikes has been found. Two of our bikes were missing for 2 weeks and just turned up this weekend - one at Watercolor and one with a broken chain on 30A.
If the name isn't on the bike, no one will know its rightful owner. Actually, my friends laugh because I put our last name on everything - cell phones, cameras, coolers, beach chairs, sports equipement, etc. They may laugh.... but I cannot tell you how many times items have been returned to me because the finder saw my name and/or phone number on them.
Just a little helpful hint for the future.
Over the years, we learned to put our name and phone number on the bikes with a permanent marker. When they get discarded in someone's yard or along 30A, we will invariably get a phone call that one of our bikes has been found. Two of our bikes were missing for 2 weeks and just turned up this weekend - one at Watercolor and one with a broken chain on 30A.
If the name isn't on the bike, no one will know its rightful owner. Actually, my friends laugh because I put our last name on everything - cell phones, cameras, coolers, beach chairs, sports equipement, etc. They may laugh.... but I cannot tell you how many times items have been returned to me because the finder saw my name and/or phone number on them.
Just a little helpful hint for the future.
