redbuda

One time I rode to the park and sat near the duck pond, a hobo offered me some food. I shaved my beard the next day.

jowilson

^^^

Bandera

In my final experience as a cycle team sponsor Cat5-2s were bicycle road racers of little to moderate ability who had perfected the tactic of racing against their teammates for local bragging rights rather than working together for something know as "a win", required an inordinate amount of technical support since working on their bikes was beneath them, expected any and all equipment for free, talked trash about their ******dly sponsors and had the delusion that a TDF team was going to offer them a lucrative contract due their inability to sprint, climb or time trial well.

Delusional homeless folk and other non-sponsored vagrants who wander into a bike shop may share some of the same characteristics but cost nothing and don't tell the mechanics how to do their jobs.

-Bandera

Camilo

I don't recall anyone judging people by their appearance - but by their behavior which was chasing off customers and possibly stealing things.

jowilson

This guy is dusty, dirt, not in a car, and NOT ON A BIKE.

I wasn't judging him; in fact he openly says he's homeless. I don't think he'd be offended to be called that because it's true and it'd be very hypocritical.

Booger1

Even homeless people can learn rules.....set the shop rules and enforce them,homeless or not.

ironwood

Homeless people are not much of a threat to cyclists when you compare the threat of some idiot texting while driving his SUV, or the truck driver making a right turn in front of you.

jowilson

I agree. We are having a shop meeting on Sunday but I won't be able to attend so I'll make sure someone discusses enforcing rules to customers.

jowilson

True, but this has nothing to do with the subject.

ironwood

I have given a lot of bikes to a local organization which teaches poor inner city kids how to repair a bike, as well as giving them to third world organizations. But the thing is that the kids earn their bikes. They repair and reassemble the bikes. They have put something of themselves into the bike and it is more than just charity. Perhaps something like that could work. Or they could earn their bike by doing something like helping clean the shop, taking out the garbage etc.

kv501

If you work in a business/co-op/etc aimed at resourceless people, you'll deal with all types of them. You're making it too complicated; if someone becomes obstinate ask them to leave, if they don't call the police.

ka0use

i think i saw that flick. nuclear explosion?

Camilo

And this has anything to do with the discussion of vagrants disrupting a place of business how?

jowilson

That is exactly what I said.

RyderTheRider

That's exactly what he said.

rebel1916

I didn't say it, but I thought it.

Loose Chain

Put a boot in his axx.

Let's see, when I was in grade school making grades, he was goofing off. Later in high school, when I stayed up all night prepping for exams, he quit. Then when I was up all night for three days in a row cramming for college exams and working a job to pay my tuition, he was jacking drugs and laughing at us conformist. Okay, now he wants my sympathy. I am never mean to people but sympathy for being worthless, nah. Opportunity slaps people in the face over and over, in this case, yet again, a bike for free. If he takes advantage of a hand up put a boot in his axx and give it to somebody else who might actually use it rather than trade it for smokes, drink and drugs.

rebel1916

Or maybe, just maybe, he was suffering from severe mental illness while you were doing all that great stuff. Or maybe he went to Vietnam, saw some terrible stuff, couldn't deal with it, and came back and drank his life away. Not that you gotta put up with any nonsense, but you never know about the back story.

Loose Chain

I try not to be judgmental and always give a chance first. Do unto others and the golden rules. However, this gentleman knew exactly what he was doing when he attempted to ask the OP to steal the bag. On a sliding scale between Sane and Insane, I am sure most of us fall in between to varying degrees on any given day. We can make excuses for bad behavior, but it is still bad behavior. And you know what, we all have a story, stealing, cheating, manipulating, taking advantage are still wrong and bad behavior regardless of the "story" or excuse. Giving people a pass for being bad is the biggest thing wrong with society today.

LC

lenny866

This guy is trying to steal a bike bag and according to the poster, probably did steal. He disrupts and loiters at this place of business and brings some of his friends to do the same. A few more incidents occurred by closing time, Oh yeah, and he is possibly wanted by the police....

Homeless has nothing to do with it, throw him/them out.

robble

terminator 2 - sarah connor was dreaming while sitting at a picnic table.. nuclear explosion - yes.

rebel1916

I didn't say tolerate BS, I said that your imaginary backstory is not reality based. Or maybe it is. You have no way to know.

billmc40

Wow! If I being a biker means I have to be this judgemental, I am giving my bike away! I try not to judge folks cause they have less then I do.
Bill

rebel1916

Huh?

billmc40

Sorry I shouldn't of quoted I must of hot the wrong button.Bill