Same Old Shit: MORE STOLEN BIKES!

Okay ... this is getting really old. In this newest cut-and-run the thief (thieves?) pulled a double-whammy and stole a 1X1 and a Karate Monkey -- both loved very much and both lovingly built by my good friend, Johnny. Visit the link above for photos and descriptions. Many of the previous thefts I've noted have been opportunistic -- someone leaves their bike in a garage or it's secured with an underpowered lock. These two bikes were locked with two other Surly Steamrollers using a U-lock and 3/8 cable. The perpetrator(s) cut the cable and stole the two mtn bikes leaving the Steamers. Who knows, maybe they would have been back for those. The point I'm making is the person(s) who stole these bikes went lookin' for bikes to steal because you can't cut a 3/8" cable with the Swiss Army knife you just happen to have in your pocket. If you love your bike take precautions, friends.

If my friends are having so many bikes stolen I can't help but think of the thousands of other Twin Cities cyclists and their bikes whom I don't know. Case in point, I'm in my garage Saturday afternoon, doors open, putzing on some shelving when a young kid of maybe 12 yrs rolls by. I say 'hi' and give him a quick wave then glance down to notice his ride -- a relatively new Cannondale with Headshok which is obviously a couple sizes too large for him. He's followed by two kids a little younger on the standard issue Magnas. Which one of these things is not like the others? I may be profiling to presume that there's something incongruous about a black kid (any 10-12 yr old kid for that matter) riding a new, too large Cannondale, but fuck it -- the circumstantial evidence points to the fact that I saw a stolen bike roll by my garage, accompanied by some young miscreants who were cruising the alleys for more easy pickings.

Bike thefts sound like they're approaching epidemic proportions. A bike blogger could make a full-time spew of posting the stolen bikes in the TC this summer. Record your serial numbers, folks. If the police find the property you can't claim it without identifying it. This helped out a friend recently whose bike WAS actually recovered by the 5-0. Also, lock your bike securely even if it is inside what you think to be a secure garage.

In the meantime, look at the photos in the link above, keep your eyes peeled and consult Hurl for the appropriate action to take when encountering bike thieves.

Thanks!

The Belgian Connection

Hola, fair readers! Long time no blog. Yep, there's tons to catch up on: I have 377 photos from my Japan trip; We had a fun family bike vacation two weeks ago; After one massive weekend of work and organization you can now walk through our garage; Willa is almost crawling. More on those topics later.

For now, however, a very excellent cross race is in danger of not happening this year. The Hub's Powderhorn Cyclocross race is having some trouble securing the necessary permit from the park board. Following is a message from Joel Cahalan, worker-owner at The Hub:

Help save cyclocross in Minneapolis Parks! For the past three years The Hub Bike Co-op has sponsered a highly attended cyclocross race at Powderhorn Park in south Minneapolis. This year we are having trouble securing a permit for the race due claimed damage to the park. We need folks to attend this Wednesday's Park Board meeting to show support for keeping cyclocross racing in Minneapolis parks and specifically at Powderhorn Park. Besides having some supporters at the meeting we need people who are willing to stand up and speak for 2-3 minutes about why it is important to keep the cyclocross race at Powderhorn. If you live in the park vicinity and or feel strongly about this please contact me about signing up to speak (Joel Cahalan 612-203-5280(cell), 612-729-0437(shop)). I will have some talking points put together and emailed out before the meeting. To speak you must be signed up by 3pm the day of the meeting. The meeting starts at 5pm with time for us to speak at 5:30. It is located at:

MPRB Administrative Offices, Board Room Suite 255
Address:
2117 West River RoadMinneapolis

If you live in the Powderhorn area, love cyclocross (and who doesn't?!) and can help out by attending the meeting to show support please do so.

On a somewhat related Belgian note -- what the hell is all the fuss about Belgian beer? It seems to be quite fashionable these days. I've frankly about had it. I have drunk my fair share of Belgian delights and they are just not all that. Some are okay, many aren't. Give me an IPA, a complex porter or a meaty stout. Besides, I like a beer I can pronounce. I'm sure to get a few comments for sticking my neck out like that.

Be well, friends. More posts soon. Thanks for those of you who've assailed me with requests to update my blog.