rjhammett

By the sound of the weirdness of your neighbors, if you did anything to 'protect' their bike they would probably respond that it is none of your damn business.

StanSeven

smontanaro 

If they live within a neighborhood governed by a homeowners' association, one could argue it's everybody's business.

jamesdak 

How is that weird though? What goes on in my yard with my property is really no one's business. Maybe I'm out of touch with the world today but when did everyone become such busy bodies?

jamesdak 

True, and why I'll never, ever, ever live in an HOA. It's bad enough just having neighbors, LOL!

tashi

Clearly, they aren't interested in what you think and aren't interested in talking to you.

It's their bike, on their property. There's nothing weird about putting something that's not that important to you outside to get it out of the way.


I'd let it be. Personally I'd have some fairly stern words for anyone that came on my property and tried to "take care of" (tarping someone else's bike, really???)my stuff. I'd likely let my dog start the conversation actually.

Mr. 66

Drillium Dude 

Maybe they saw this display at Costco and were inspired



DD

seypat

OP needs to keep us updated on how the situation. It will make for an interesting read. Maybe a TV movie in the future.

shoota 

I will.

Separate thought: Holy cow, some of you guys here have issues.

Raleigh74

Andy_K 

By convention, the way people who live in neighborhoods with an HOA communicate is by having the HOA lawyer send a letting threatening fines rather than simply knocking on a door to present grievances directly. Ask me how I know.

shoota 

I'm definitely not taking it, we don't have an HOA (thank God), and I'm not sure I'll go back over there based on getting the door locked in my face. I might leave a note however, that seems like the least intrusive way to establish contact.

I can see other bikes in their house so I'm guessing this Trek is just a junker to them, especially since it's likely too big for anyone in the family to ride it.

No, they don't hate me, like I said we just moved in so they have no reason to even know we exist yet.

HarborBandS

I think this sounds like a good plan.


Due to our previous discussions about a bike for sale, I maybe sort of know what town you are in. But I truly have no concept of what the social norms are there or what kind of neighborhood you are in. That would change my opinion of the situation. Is your neighborhood mostly families, or more transient in nature? Is it upscale or rough around the edges? Is it the type of place where leaving things in your yard is normal or at least accepted?


In my neighborhood (suburb of Chicago--walkable, older, low-crime neighborhood near train), people generally answer the door for neighbors, and foot traffic is pretty common with neighbors talking to each other on a regular basis and socializing. So I would have no trouble talking to any neighbor about anything. It sounds like Andy K's suburb is not this friendly. And when I lived in more urban and college transient types of neighborhoods, I would have never gotten involved.


And I agree that it's pretty terrible to leave a perfectly nice bike out in the elements in your front yard. But again, I don't live in an area where people do this kind of thing. The shame of being the "trashy neighbor" would be enough to prevent this sort of thing. But unless these guys are meth heads or truly sociopathic d!cks, I have to think that they would respond to a kind note? And if they have a bunch of bikes, maybe they are enthusiasts?


Or on the other hand, you may have moved next door to a den of bike thieves.

shoota 

It's a great neighborhood, one of the best in town. It's mostly older folds with new families like mine moving in as the older generation ages out. The only reason that bike is still there is because of the neighborhood. These people are just really eclectic. They have little things here, there, and everywhere. They used bowling balls to line their garden to give you an idea.

They really are artsy people. From what I can tell they are a middle aged couple with two (maybe three) high school kids. It's likely the bike is the older boy's, if I had to guess. They aren't bike thieves or meth heads, they just strange. Even my neighbor that lives closer to them and has been here for years doesn't know them.

The saga continues...

HarborBandS

Ah, Hippie neighbors. We have a similar neighbor with yard sculptures made of old license plates and rusted steel rebar.

Totally the kid's bike. Makes perfect sense. Maybe he'll sell it to you cheap.

tkamd73 

shoota 

If I could get them to talk to me..also, I don't want to buy it lol. It's HUGE

shoota 

Dude.

belacqua

I would leave them a friendly note saying that I collect old bikes and live next door, am curious about the one in their yard, and if they'd like to know more, please follow this link to the bike forums discussion about them.

shoota 

hahaha that's hilarious

seypat

You need to be at the boundary line during coming/going times with your best Mr. Rogers impersonation. Camp out doing trivial yard work until you get a face to face. Heck, put a bike stand/bike out there and work on it as a subliminal message. Try not to look creepy. Don't let them see that you are drooling over their bike.

Hudson308 

My vote.

Got anything smaller that you can trade for it? Maybe an old Antelope or Mountain Track?

shoota 

Unfortuanely no. I guess the '84 Trek 620 I just got? It's tiny. But it wouldn't be the best trade probably.

dddd

Why it's always good to be on beer-drinking or job-sharing terms with your neighbors!

Also, with no fences between yards (here in the 'burbs), neighbors can be quite communal about sharing their yard clean-up efforts across the property lines, and I've had neighbors bring me bikes, lumber, hardware-store gift certificates Vodka and frozen game meat in return for my own efforts. I don't have a gas-powered leaf blower, so neighbor-to-the-west blows off the entire hillside whenever he fires his up, and I in return keep the easement free of ground fuel using my mulching mower.

I keep an eye out for anyone having difficulty with their car, and am quick to run out with my battery charger ..or help push/roll their car to more-level ground (where their low-on-gas vehicle might then actually start!), whatever is needed.

It just kicks ass knowing that your neighbors will have your back.