Gay Wise finds it hard to believe she has been reunited with her long-lost racing bike that was stolen in Vancouver almost 30 years ago. ItB次元官网网址檚 an unlikely, but true tale, however.

SheB次元官网网址檚 also thankful to Will Arnold, owner of DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Experience Cycling, for taking on the job of restoring it.

Wise, the former president of the South Cowichan Rotary Club and member of the now inactive BC Masters Cycling Association, was an international bike racer who won a number of competitions over the years.

She and her husband Tony Hoar, who died in 2019, had a custom-made bike building company in Vancouver decades ago, and he designed a bike specifically made for her dimensions and size to race on.

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B次元官网网址淚 won lots of races on it and had it for about 10 years,B次元官网网址� Wise said.

B次元官网网址淭hen one day I was going to a meeting in Vancouver and parked in a hotel parking lot and left my bike locked up in the back seat. When I came out of the meeting, a window in my car was smashed out and my bike was gone. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the last time I saw it for a very long time.B次元官网网址�

Wise said about three years ago, after she had moved to the Cowichan Valley, she received a call from one of her former employees from the bike store who said he found the bike in an alley in the city.

B次元官网网址淚t had no wheels, handle bars, pedals or a seat, and what was left was mostly the frame,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淏ut my former employee recognized the paint job, which I did myself, and then he contacted the person who built its frame and he keeps all his records of the work he does, and he confirmed that it was my bike. It certainly looked like it had lived a hard life on the mean streets of Vancouver.B次元官网网址�

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Wise said her employee took the ferry and brought the bike back to her over a year ago and she brought it to Arnold to see if he could resurrect it.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e known Will for years through biking and heB次元官网网址檚 always been good to me, so he took it on as a project,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚 paid for all the parts and Will never charged me for all the labour he put into restoring it. I really appreciate Will for this, and everything else he has done for me over the years.B次元官网网址�

Arnold said he looked around and found a similar bike from the same era and vintage as WiseB次元官网网址檚 bike that he could use for parts.

B次元官网网址淚t worked out really well and even the colour matched,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淕ay should be in the Cycling Hall of Fame for all sheB次元官网网址檚 accomplished and gave to cycling, and I was more than honoured to donate my time to restore her bike. The fact that she continues to ride it at her age (84) is just incredible.B次元官网网址�

Wise said her competitive days are over, but she intends to ride her bike for fun and exercise.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just glad to finally have it back,B次元官网网址� she said.