The Orillia OPP have charged a Severn Township man with the theft of a unique bike, closing a cycling caper that started late last year.
In November 2020, Peter Slofstra noticed “Big Blue” — the tandem bicycle he and his wife, Marja, had ridden across the country to raise money for charity — was missing from his shed on his Orillia property. He had forgotten to lock the shed and said at the time he “felt sick” upon noticing the bike had been taken.
Word spread quickly after an article ran in OrilliaMatters. Slofstra was hearing from strangers, including someone from Hamilton, who thought they might have seen the bike on the street or for sale online.
Many people were keeping an eye out for the bike. A few weeks ago, Tristan Spurr, co-owner of the Crank and Sprocket Bicycle Co., saw a listing for what appeared to be the bike in question on Facebook Marketplace.
The ad said the bike was at Uncle Buck’s on Mississaga Street.
The Slofstras identified the bike as 'Big Blue' and called the police. Today, the OPP announced they have charged a local man in connection with the theft of the beloved bike.
Daniel Davidson, 51, of Severn Township, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and was released on a Form 9 Appearance Notice with a court date of July 13, 2021, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Orillia.
For the Slofstras, the most important part of the story is that Big Blue is home. They took it for a 20-kilometre ride right away.
“We kind of had resolved that we wouldn't have this experience again,” Slofstra said. “I don’t think we realized until that ride just how big the loss was and how special this bike was to us.”
--With files from Nathan Taylor
