Exploded Hub

of all the types of thieves and possibly criminals in general, bike thieves have to rank up there with among the scummiest.  At best they are ruining someone’s day and costing them a lot of money, at worst they are taking something that someone really depends on away and causing a lot of pain.  I remember seeing a stat that said that a lot (most?)  people who have their bike stolen either buy  a cheaper bike the next time, or quit biking altogether, discourages by the lost sunk costs.

well at the shop the other day, we had another customer coming in, dragging his rear-wheelless bike into the shop.    this really broke my heart.  it was an older gentleman, most definitely qualified as a senior citizen, and he clearly depending on his bike on a daily basis.  the combination of seeing him physically struggling with dragging the bike into the shop, exclaiming that he has carried it “from Dudley!”(which is far on foot to the South End for anyone), seeing that he likely did not have a lot of disposable income (what an awful first-world phrase that is, by the way), and seeing his bike which evidenced a  lot of heavy winter riding (grime would not come off the chainstays or drivetrain!) was just crushing for me.  I wanted to go out to the “shitwheel pile” we keep and fit a wheel on that would work for him, but the shop ended up selling with a used wheel with freewheel, and a new tire and tube, which along with labor cost this gentlemen over 80 dollars.  I know the shop can’t be a charity but I do wish we had just given him a wheel that was headed to the dumpster, trued it up, filled it with air, and got him riding for, say 20 bucks.   (and i wish i hadnt given my own spare junk wheel away eariler this week to that other guy who had his wheel swiped — at least that guy could afford new digs, and was upfront about being willing to pay for it.  of course i couldnt foresee into the future and know that, No i shouldnt give away this wheel for free to this guy, because a needier person will walk in a couple days later).

Well, its not any consolation for me, but I know that its not my or the shop’s fault for the trouble these two victims have had, it was the asshole thieves taking rear wheels from beater bikes.  Oh man I just get the urge to go to law school and work in the district attorney’s office for 25 years and then get appointed Judge by the governor just so i can sentence bike thieves to real hard time and kick their ass around a bit.  bike theft is a real quality of life issue; it can really sour someone on a city or particular neighborhood, not to mention bike ownership/riding. I wish MassBike took this up as an advocacy issue.

I also wish bikes didnt have quick-releases as standard issue, actually.   as a biker how often do you use the QR?? how much more likely is the quick release going to be used by a thief rather than the owner???

ok well rant over. deep breaths… in….out…. haha.   the lesson to learn is, secure both your wheels when locking!  and your seat too.

 late nite edit: as i think it over more, i am kicking myself for not going over to the cafe 3 doors down and buying the guy a coffee and some baklava.   fuuuuuuuuccccck. ok goodnite.