General Cycling Discussion - My bike got vandalized

Few days ago, I found my bicycle in the morning laying on the ground with the wheel still in the bike rack.

Some individual at the dormitory complex, did this between 6 pm and 11 am next day. I don't have any enemies there, nor even do I know anyone or anyone knows that I ride a bike.
There was a party there that night, so possibly some drunk "individuals" are responsible for this.
I have already reported this to police, which was surprised since this is the first case like this in 20 years.

I parked the bike there every night for about 3 months and this is the first time something happened.

The bike rack was never used, but as soon as other students saw my bike there, they started locking their bikes to the rack as well.

So, on some days there would be 4-5 nice bicycles, both high-end road bikes and good looking mtbs.

Now that mine is laying there with the wheel bent, I haven't see anyone park there anymore.

I am now looking for a used, decent 27x 1/4 aluminum wheel.

If anyone around Los Angeles/Pasadena has any that they would be willing to sell, please let me know.


contact info:
pont331@hotmail.com


Mikhail.

Bad Luck, these things happen, but what really gets me annoyed if there is no purpose to it, just for the fun of it. I hope someday they catch these bike vandells :mad:

Good luck finding a wheel, i'm a bit far away to help.

Wow that rack sucks. It may have been someone who accidently fell into it. Things happen, but I'd be ticked about it too.

Sorry about it pal. Some people aren't just human enough.

Ya, they do it just for fun. Except I for one cannot see the "fun" part in it. Sorry for your loss of wheel, glad they did not do more damage.

--J

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=71121

That really sucks!

Check with Steve at Open Road bike shop on Sierra Madre Blvd in Pasadena. Tell him what happened, and he'll be able to fix you up. He's got all sorts of wheels hanging from the ceiling.

Few days ago, I found my bicycle in the morning laying on the ground with the wheel still in the bike rack.

Some individual at the dormitory complex, did this between 6 pm and 11 am next day. I don't have any enemies there, nor even do I know anyone or anyone knows that I ride a bike.
There was a party there that night, so possibly some drunk "individuals" are responsible for this.
I have already reported this to police, which was surprised since this is the first case like this in 20 years.

I parked the bike there every night for about 3 months and this is the first time something happened.

The bike rack was never used, but as soon as other students saw my bike there, they started locking their bikes to the rack as well.

So, on some days there would be 4-5 nice bicycles, both high-end road bikes and good looking mtbs.

Now that mine is laying there with the wheel bent, I haven't see anyone park there anymore.

I am now looking for a used, decent 27x 1/4 aluminum wheel.

If anyone around Los Angeles/Pasadena has any that they would be willing to sell, please let me know.


contact info:
pont331@hotmail.com

Mikhail.

This is the reason why I NEVER use bicycle racks. In fact, I make sure to park my bike far away from the rack because the kids (and I mean kids) who use the rack destroy bikes just for fun. If you park your bike long enough on a rack, it will get vandalized! It's sad that cyclists are their own worse enemies when it comes to respecting other peoples' property.

You'll sometimes see a nice bike on a rack and then it will never appear anymore. What you don't know is that someone probably stole or damaged the bike forcing the owner never to use the rack anymore. I don't blame those cyclists for no longer using the rack because there is too much wreckless behavior from the children who did not grow up.

The police never get reported on incidents like this because cyclists know nothing will get done. I guess you found out the hard way why no one uses that rack. In fact, it's the reason why most racks are empty and those that are used are full of vandalized junkers.

If I were you, I'd never use that rack again and find someplace else to park.

Those are the worst kind of racks you can park your bike at. Only suggestion is to find some o-ring parking spots.

put it in yer dorm.


also nashbar has cheap wheels.

Mikhail..........sorry to hear about your loss. I agree with the others in regards to parking your bike in these racks. Are you able to park your bike indoors, overnight? I will keep my eyes open for a 27" rim. As posted earlier, Steve over at Open Road literally has millions of new and used bike parts displayed in his huge shop. You're bound to find something there, either a replacement rim or an entire rear wheel.
I also noticed in your photo of your rear pannier rack. I have one exactly like that on my commuter bike. That is a Delta rack, I believe....for about $20? Is that the same rack you used on your loaded cross-country tour? If so, it held up pretty well.

George

That's why they call those racks 'wheel benders'. Sorry about your misfortune.

Mikhail-

Sorry to see that photo. Be it intentional (99.9% likely) or accidental (0.1% highly unlikely) it's just sad.

Unfortunately in our society folks just see cycles as not much more than glorified toys as well as easy targets for stupid things like this...

you should be able to find an inexpensive and just as good (if not better) replacement.

In the future... try to keep it inside. After all, that cycle deserves the best-it's one of few that have made the voyage from lands end to lands end!!

Best of luck my friend.

Thank you everybody for your responses and support.

Thank you Angelo for your offer of those nice wheels for free.


I actually managed to buy a used aluminum wheel in a Schwinn shop today.

13$ with quick release locks, decently looking axle and non-rusted spokes. :)))) :p

I already put it on the bike and it rides wonderfully.

Considering that the freewheel, axle and axles were bad on the old wheel and I wanted to change it anyway, the person that did this to the bike (I could see dusty foot prints on the frame) actually done me a favor. :)


I never liked type of rack either, but it was the only one in that area. I don't have an opportunity to keep the bike indoors, but there are other places on campus to lock it to. (near police, for example).

Again, thank you everybody for responding, it feels much better knowing there are people who care.
_________

George, the rear racks is exactly a Delta mega rack for 20 something dollars. It's the one that was on the bike during the trip, yeah. :) Does yours work ok?
I didn't have ANY problems with this one whatsoever.
__________

I forgot the camera today, but will post a pic with the next chance.

Inopl.

:D http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s3/img13.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/bird.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/pivo.gif

The design of that rack invites theft and vandalism. Complain to the campus facilities manager, and supply him with photos showing what real bike racks looks like.

Hunt around your dorm grounds for a three inch thick solid steel pole, set in concrete. Often, an anchor pole on a steel fence works well, such as the steel fences next to the handicapped ramp at a dorm.

There are wall hangers and ceiling hangers that would work in a dorm room. Give the manager of your dorm a choice: an indoor room with secure locks and a secure rack, or allow you to keep your bike in your room.

Larger universities spend millions of dollars building and maintaining parking lots. Your college ought to thank you for riding a bike, and taking one less parking spot on campus. Bike riders save colleges at lot of money, and bike riders, with their tuition, are paying the salaries of the campus facilities staff. They are YOUR employees...tell them what the "boss" expects.

A lot of good suggestions here, but I have to comment this one:



Give the manager of your dorm a choice: an indoor room with secure locks and a secure rack, or allow you to keep your bike in your room.

An indoor room with secure locks WILL NOT WORK. The way it does not work around here goes like this: we build bike storage rooms routinely for every block of flats. At any given time there will be literally hundreds of people with current legitimate access to such room, plus all the previous occupants that have their old key hanging around somewhere. It only takes one bad apple, and a room like that provides all the privacy a thief could want for breaking locks, removing parts etc. The locks will only be re-keyed after multiple complaints and proof of repeated thefts / vandalism.

And this is for normal blocks. I can only imagine what it would be like in dorm conditions.

--J

It is really sad to see a bike abused like that.

I would get a folding bike like a Dahon boardwalk or something and keep it in my room. You could even lock it in a cupboard or something.

The problem here is that police have little reason to understand the impact of the crime in question. From their standpoint the total damage is roughly$13, the cost of getting a new wheel. They are not encouraged to examine other impacts of a crime, such as the decision to switch modes of transportation, which have much larger societal impacts, or in the case of some of the "working poor" a decision to leave the labor force because bicycle transportation is the only feasible mode. Other modes are either unavailable or too expensive for the revenue generated.

I think the answer is more advocacy, which would focus not on altering the laws, which adequately outlaw the crime, but rather for a different emphasis on use of police resources. Furhter, judicial officers need to be made aware of the impacts of such crimes, so they understand that it is more troublesome than a mere prank.

That really sucks, but you gotta believe in karma, those that did this deep will get theirs!!

It should say deed, not deep

I got a bike locker - free of charge for students :) This makes me feel much better :)) http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/sleep.gif

This campus doesn't have very many people commuting by bike, so the university has a possibility to offer free lockers to those who commute.

I could have signed up for it earlier, so in what happened is partly my fault.

Another satisfied cyclist.

Story ends. :)) http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s3/img5.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/pivo.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/priv.gif
http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/lam.gif
http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/yel.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s3/img94.gif http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/mog.gif

Mikhail,
Awesome lockers.... You go to Cal Tech?

George

George, if I was going to Cal Tech, I probably would as well be riding something different. :D

I go to Cal State LA. http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/tongue_002.gif

Mikhail.......well, if they offered you such a nice locker free of charge, I figured you must be paying mucho dinero for tuition........so the first campus that came to mind in the area was Cal Tech. What are you studying over at CSULA?

George, you are absolutely right, it IS strange that such school as CSULA offers free bike lockers, and I am sure people at Cal Tech have all kinds of opportunities and conveniences for the tuition they pay ($ 25,335 a year).

I am working on Bachelor's in Social Work... :o :D
It seems to me that some areas are not particularly bicycle friendly, so the school can accommodate those few that manage to ride. :)
http://clubs.arizona.edu/~tricats/images/photos/Tinfoilman%202003/Sarah%20Bike%201.jpg

I have already reported this to police, which was surprised since this is the first case like this in 20 years.


Every university I've been to has hundreds of mangled and abandoned bikes in racks months at a time.
Once or twice a year campus police cut them all out and scrap them for the campus police bike sale.
I'd never want to leave my bike in a university rack overnight, but if you're in a dorm you're stuck I guess.

Well, here my accident appeared in a campus newspaper. :)

So, it somehow contributed to crime awareness/statistics. http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/znaika.gif http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/box2.gif http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/pifpaf.gif http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/writer.gif http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/bis.gif http://forum.volgograd.ru/images/smilies/gent.gif

George, you are absolutely right, it IS strange that such school as CSULA offers free bike lockers, and I am sure people at Cal Tech have all kinds of opportunities and conveniences for the tuition they pay ($ 25,335 a year).

I am working on Bachelor's in Social Work... :o :D
It seems to me that some areas are not particularly bicycle friendly, so the school can accommodate those few that manage to ride. :)
http://clubs.arizona.edu/~tricats/images/photos/Tinfoilman%202003/Sarah%20Bike%201.jpg
if ever they catch those bastard, let me know please.. I will drive down there and cut them to pieces and feed them to the piranhas