Re: Dekerf Team SL 96?
So managed to trace the original owner and find out a bit more about the bike. On the off chance I contacted the bike shop listed on the seat stays given that Dekerfs are unusual enough that they might remember it.
Turns out they did - mainly because it was the shop owners bike! Turns out its a Mountain - not a Team SL and the guy had owned it for 16 odd years. It was refurbed in 2006 when it got the new paint job and as per Reuben's comment above Mountain decals are no longer available from Dekerf - so they were given Team SL ones instead.
I learnt this all after I got a bit of a bombshell - after my first contact with the owner I got a call from the Police - turns out the bike was stolen from his shop along with 7 others a year ago. :shock: :evil:
So I had the bike for less than a week before the Police turned up to confiscate it
. I've just been given leave by them to contact Ebay and try to get my money back. I have no indication at this point as to whether the Ebay seller was legit - he certainly seemed that way - but I guess time may tell.
So currently sitting here £500 down and nothing to show for it. Case raised with Ebay but gawd knows how it will progress.....
The original owner seems like a nice guy - very apologetic that he had to call the police - but I completely understand he had little choice. We exchanged a few mails after the fact and I wished him well at getting his bike back - which no doubt will take a while.
On the one hand Im gutted - on the other Im glad my curiosity has got a fellow retrobiker (in spirit at least) his much loved bike back. I know how I'd feel if the shoe was on the other foot. And who knows - maybe someone will get nicked for it or some of the other bikes will show up as well.