Bike is back with its owner

PENSACOLA -- Jim Rodney has his bicycle back.

Robbie Owens, 60, of Pensacola returned the silver Super Sport Schwinn to Rodney on Thursday — five days after it was accidently sold to Owens at an estate sell for $5.

"I'm just glad I bought it," Owens said. "Someone else could have bought it and not brought it back to the guy."

Rodney rode the bicycle off into the sunset after getting it back, ending nearly a week of worrying about whether he would ever see the bike again.

"It doesn't look like much, but it's mine," said Rodney, 56, of Pensacola.

Rodney was so happy to get the bike he tried to give Owens the $5 back that he paid for it.

Owens refused to take the money.

Rodney's bike was sold while he was at an estate sale on Dunwoody Drive. The family was upset after learning about the mix up and gave Rodney $100.

Rodney said he is giving the money back to the family.

A story about the bike in Wednesday's Pensacola News Journal led to Rodney getting his bike back.

"This is quite a hoot," he said.

Owens called the paper Thursday so he could arrange for Rodney to get the bike.

"It's kind of funny there has been such a big to-do about a bike," he said. "But for the guy, it's a big deal. He lost his only means of transportation."

Rodney said he had started to lose hope the bike would be returned.

"I've been on cloud nine," he said.