Something kinda funny happened today on my ride to work. I saw a kid riding a familiar bike. Three years ago I built a bike for a friend and weeks later it was stolen. I kinda always keep an eye out for it as it is rather unique, and today was my lucky day. I made a quick U -turn as I shouted to my wife to keep going to work and let people know I would be running late (we work together). This dude was riding on the side walk so I hopped up on the curb as I asked rather aggresivly where he got the bike. I stopped right in front of him so he had to stop. He said "my cousin gave it to me" and I replied " your cousin must have got it from someone that stole it". He looked at me kinda strange as I said "this bike was stolen right off my firend's porch" (it was locked to the railing and the thief stomped the railing until it was free). So he came back with "my cousin had it in his back yard and he said I could have it" So then I explained that I built it and said "I'll give you 10 bucks for it or I can call the Police" since I figured it would take forever for the Police to get there (non emergency) and I was in a hurry. Also I really had no proof that it was stolen, all I had was a few pics of the build in my Photobucket album. So then his face kinda changed to worried/ guilty and he said "I'll take the 10 bucks" I really wasn't about to fight this kid (he was about 17-19 years old )for it and I did feel kinda weird just taking a bike from him. So then I rode the rest of the way to work, about a mile with one hand on my handle bars and one hand on the chopper handlebars. I was still less than 10 minutes late.
there are few things that changed on this bike. Rear brake was added, but the cable and lever were not there. The bottle cage is crudely bolted to the frame. It is repainted gloss black and there are bullet valve stem caps. Most importantly the seat is different. The seat was bolted down at the nose and tube was holding up the rear of the pan. the tube was cut from a head tube of a fork with the top nut filled to make a cap. so there was a nice "stash" spot under the seat for keys, change, whatever. I will have to recreated this in the rebuild.
how it looked when I "finished' it
paint detail on the gusset
from the build
I think i'm going to tear it down and re do the chain path (it never really worked out as I though it might)
most likely i'll get a coaster brake hub, wheel for it and ditch the caliper brakes. The seat I think I'll the to put back like it was.
should I give it back to the guy that allowed it to get stolen? he did lock it to a rather questionable spot
or should I keep it?
there are few things that changed on this bike. Rear brake was added, but the cable and lever were not there. The bottle cage is crudely bolted to the frame. It is repainted gloss black and there are bullet valve stem caps. Most importantly the seat is different. The seat was bolted down at the nose and tube was holding up the rear of the pan. the tube was cut from a head tube of a fork with the top nut filled to make a cap. so there was a nice "stash" spot under the seat for keys, change, whatever. I will have to recreated this in the rebuild.
how it looked when I "finished' it
paint detail on the gusset
from the build
I think i'm going to tear it down and re do the chain path (it never really worked out as I though it might)
most likely i'll get a coaster brake hub, wheel for it and ditch the caliper brakes. The seat I think I'll the to put back like it was.
should I give it back to the guy that allowed it to get stolen? he did lock it to a rather questionable spot
or should I keep it?
