The Chainlink

Potentially stolen bikes seen on Dan Ryan on Saturday

I was driving northbound on the Dan Ryan Saturday and was passing an black 80's-early90's Ford full-size pickup truck (probably F-150) and a ZIPP carbon wheel sticking up from the bed caught my eye. I looked in the bed and there appeared to be several higher end road bikes just laying in it.

The people in the pickup truck were obviously not cyclists, at least not ones that might have a bike with a $2000 wheelset in the back of a $500 pickup truck, and they appeared, shall we say, somewhat shady.

I tried to slow down so I could take a photo of the bikes and the license plate, but traffic was way too heavy and I lost track of the truck. But the scene was obviously rather suspicious.

I don't know what the point of posting this is, as I'm not sure the bikes were stolen and don't have a positive way of identifying the truck. It's like reporting a UFO sighting.

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 14, 2010 at 2:09pm
Sherman park crit was last saturday, on 51st.... bike racers will sell their souls for a set of carbon racing wheels
Permalink Reply by Will on June 14, 2010 at 2:13pm
That's right, 3 passengers, one female and two male.

What made you think the bikes belonged to them? Still seems suspicious to me, even with the cycling jersey. Mismatched license plates? Even more so.

Gibbles T. Chimp said:
I'm pretty sure that is the same truck Tim, Kevin and I noticed heading north on Halsted after the Swap-O-Rama saturday morning. There were actually 3 Look road bikes in the bed of the truck. After the morning looking for stolen bikes at the Swap-o-Rama our radar was tuned and we all said something to each other about it, but I'm pretty sure they belonged to the owner of the truck. The passenger on the far right was wearing a bicycle jersey it appeared. 3 passengers in the truck, 2 males and a female. 3 bikes, all the same brand... despite the fact the truck had mismatched front and rear license plates I think the bikes were legit.
Permalink Reply by Will on June 14, 2010 at 2:14pm
Ha, I guess that makes sense.

Michael A said:
Sherman park crit was last saturday, on 51st.... bike racers will sell their souls for a set of carbon racing wheels
Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 14, 2010 at 2:16pm
Anyone want to buy a slightly used soul?

Will V. said:
Ha, I guess that makes sense.

Michael A said:
Sherman park crit was last saturday, on 51st.... bike racers will sell their souls for a set of carbon racing wheels
Permalink Reply by igz on June 14, 2010 at 3:25pm
tho we have been dealing with stolen bikes and their thieves lately, we must be careful not to get all McCarthy on people. And lets not forget how our judicial system works (or is supposed to, anyway).

If i spent $2G's on a wheel set, there is a good chance i wouldnt spend that on my car/truck.

Tell me more about this soul?
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 14, 2010 at 4:00pm
Good point iggi.

I was somewhat confused by your post Will when I came to "I don't know what the point of posting this is, as I'm not sure the bikes were stolen and don't have a positive way of identifying the truck. It's like reporting a UFO sighting."
Permalink Reply by Will on June 14, 2010 at 4:00pm
I'm totally willing to accept I was wrong. But the system isn't working for cyclists.

Two weeks ago, I "stole" my sister's bicycle that had been locked up for a year at the bottom of the Portland aerial tram. She lost the key a year ago and asked me to help get it. My girlfriend held the cable in place while I sawed through it in about 3 minutes. Security-types and lots of pedestrians were in plain view. I got a couple of funny looks, but no one even approached me.

If I spend $2k on a wheelset, chances are I'd wrap it in alpaca wool after each race and load it gently in the back of my Porsche Cayenne. If I had one.

iggi said:
tho we have been dealing with stolen bikes and their thieves lately, we must be careful not to get all McCarthy on people. And lets not forget how our judicial system works (or is supposed to, anyway).

If i spent $2G's on a wheel set, there is a good chance i wouldnt spend that on my car/truck.

Tell me more about this soul?
Permalink Reply by Will on June 14, 2010 at 4:05pm
Because the scene was *awfully* suspicious to me, but like I said, I had no proof. It just didn't make sense. When I think of people spending a couple of grand on a wheelset, I imagine those people wouldn't just throw them in the back of an old rusty pickup truck.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
I was somewhat confused by your post Will when I came to "I don't know what the point of posting this is, as I'm not sure the bikes were stolen and don't have a positive way of identifying the truck. It's like reporting a UFO sighting."
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 14, 2010 at 4:06pm
Sorry, but a lot of amateur racers spend most of their money on their bikes.

No funds for alpaca wool or Porsches. :)

Will V. said:
I'm totally willing to accept I was wrong. But the system isn't working for cyclists.

Two weeks ago, I "stole" my sister's bicycle that had been locked up for a year at the bottom of the Portland aerial tram. She lost the key a year ago and asked me to help get it. My girlfriend held the cable in place while I sawed through it in about 3 minutes. Security-types and lots of pedestrians were in plain view. I got a couple of funny looks, but no one even approached me.

If I spend $2k on a wheelset, chances are I'd wrap it in alpaca wool after each race and load it gently in the back of my Porsche Cayenne. If I had one.

iggi said:
tho we have been dealing with stolen bikes and their thieves lately, we must be careful not to get all McCarthy on people. And lets not forget how our judicial system works (or is supposed to, anyway).

If i spent $2G's on a wheel set, there is a good chance i wouldnt spend that on my car/truck.

Tell me more about this soul?

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