At one P.M. on December 24, 2012, I was on the West side of Oak Street in the alley between 15th and 16th Avenue. The weather, by the way, was nice and sunny. Looking East into the lane on the other side of Oak. I saw a fellow bring a bike out of a garage, lean it against a dumpster and go away. He came right back and put on the bike what looked like a piece of cardboard. I was on the other side of Oak before you could say "free," which, coincidentally, is what was written on the piece of cardboard stuck on the bike -- I'm sorry, My bike!
It was not a junker, it was a good quality Norco. Sturdy aluminium frame, side-pull brakes, and even a mega-range gear. It needed new brake pads, some air in the tires, and most of the steel parts showed rusting. I talked to the fellow about all this. He just wanted to get rid of it all the same. He didn't ride it, It was just taking up space, he figured someone else could make good use of it. I thanked him sincerely; my 1990s Rocky Mountain, which I'd paid $185.00 for about a year previously, was far past it's sell-by date.
The Rocky Mountain went in a dumpster minus useful parts, and I put cartridge brakes on the Norco ASAP. I still need to get a longer seat-post. It's covered in union stickers, which I've decided to leave on -- I'll post a picture when I get a working camera.
I do feel that many people -- if they see me as a binner, but especially as homeless -- will at least allow for the possibility that I've stolen the bike. Should I even wonder how many people think I've stolen the laptop I'm creating this post on? A homeless binner, laptop-owning friend of mine was accosted in McDonalds not too long ago by a complete stranger who not only expressed his suspicion that the laptop was stolen, but actually took a photo of my friend (getting the incriminating laptop in the shot I suppose).
I know my friend didn't steal his laptop, because I helped him get it. I didn't steal my laptop, or my bike, or anything else I have. Honest.
It was not a junker, it was a good quality Norco. Sturdy aluminium frame, side-pull brakes, and even a mega-range gear. It needed new brake pads, some air in the tires, and most of the steel parts showed rusting. I talked to the fellow about all this. He just wanted to get rid of it all the same. He didn't ride it, It was just taking up space, he figured someone else could make good use of it. I thanked him sincerely; my 1990s Rocky Mountain, which I'd paid $185.00 for about a year previously, was far past it's sell-by date.
The Rocky Mountain went in a dumpster minus useful parts, and I put cartridge brakes on the Norco ASAP. I still need to get a longer seat-post. It's covered in union stickers, which I've decided to leave on -- I'll post a picture when I get a working camera.
I do feel that many people -- if they see me as a binner, but especially as homeless -- will at least allow for the possibility that I've stolen the bike. Should I even wonder how many people think I've stolen the laptop I'm creating this post on? A homeless binner, laptop-owning friend of mine was accosted in McDonalds not too long ago by a complete stranger who not only expressed his suspicion that the laptop was stolen, but actually took a photo of my friend (getting the incriminating laptop in the shot I suppose).
I know my friend didn't steal his laptop, because I helped him get it. I didn't steal my laptop, or my bike, or anything else I have. Honest.
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