News

In a tale that will give hope to the tens of thousands of Canadians who have had their bicycles nicked, police handed over Tony Roche’s Norco 10-speed 28 years after it was stolen outside a Victoria pub.

When police informed Roche’s wife that they had traced the bike back to him via its serial number, the Esquimalt resident thought they were referring to a recently pinched electric bike. Roche joked that getting the neglected, vintage bike back was “kind of exciting, but not Lotto exciting.”

It was a fine 1984 day - possibly with Bananarama in the air - when 21 year old Roche locked his bike outside a Douglas Street tavern. Thieves swiped his ride, but not his buddy’s unlocked and allegedly superior bike. Now, nearly three decades later, it has returned.

Roche’s story, equal parts incredible and nostalgic (a ten speed!), will fill any cyclist who has lost a bicycle with faith that somewhere a metal steed sits waiting to be led back to its legitimate owner. This reporter holds out optimism for his 1992 Kona Lava Dome, stolen only two months after it was purchased in Vancouver, to find its back to him.