A sign that mountain bikes are getting too expensive?
- Thread starter slyfink
- Start date
That sux, but they've been doing that at Whistler for years.
I was coming back from Santos one day and stopped at Popeye's chicken to eat. This truck pulls in right after us and proceeds to the back corner of the parking lot. I parked where we could see the bikes and we grabbed the food. Sitting there eating and I can see the dirtbags looking at the restaurant. So I step out the door and point at them and yell "I'm watching you motherfvckers!" Truck immediately starts, spins tires out of the side of the parking lot, driving 35 mph over the curb and probably fvcking the front end up.
And they were cheap, beat dirtjumpers.
And they were cheap, beat dirtjumpers.
Problem identified.
When I was living in Virginia Beach we had someone try to boost five of the bikes off of the back of the Tacoma when we were in the grocery store. Thankfully I had locked the bikes in, left my brother-in-law in the car, and told him where I kept my gun. When the first guy stepped up and tried to grab the ex-wife's bike I guess he didn't see my BIL until he was out of the truck, gun drawn.
Say what you like about my viewpoint on guns, but a loaded glock 20 tends to make a bike thief think twice.
Say what you like about my viewpoint on guns, but a loaded glock 20 tends to make a bike thief think twice.
Good thing your bro in law was in the car or they might have jacked your glock too.
We had that in Austin a few years back.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2009-04-10/764582/
The guy was active in the race scene and would make friends, find out where they lived then jack their bikes. I know a few people who were hit. He ended up in prison, hope he got it good there.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2009-04-10/764582/
The guy was active in the race scene and would make friends, find out where they lived then jack their bikes. I know a few people who were hit. He ended up in prison, hope he got it good there.
Bike thieves suck but I disagree with the basic question of the original post. There have always been expensive bikes available. No one forces anyone to buy the super high-end stuff, and mid-range bikes are better than ever.
Also, thieves occasionally follow people with obviously expensive stuff. I don't see any news here.
Also, thieves occasionally follow people with obviously expensive stuff. I don't see any news here.
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Too bad BIL didnt have a bomb to stop the thieves.
I’m one of the guys working hard every day to pay to for my mtb’n habit and little time for encounters w/ the law so my knowledge is lacking……..in the USA at what $ level does a theft become a Fed charge? I assume since we’re talking bicycles the thieves get a slap on the hand and sent on their way.
J
J
federal? no idea. many states $1500 is the value at which theft is classifed as grand larceny and is a felony.
Please tell me you did this MadMax style with a crappy microphone and wearing the metal mask!
point of clarity: felonies exist at both state and federal level. for grand larceny for something like a bike, that would be prosecuted at the state level.
I see, I'm sure if we ask the thieves they would not only know the intricacies of the law but the penalties as well…….. there’s some parts of the human condition I find difficult to accept.
I guess I’m sort of like Chappell’s friend Chip…….
J
I guess if it was a multifaceted group that was stealing bikes all over the place, racking up a lot of value, and crossing state lines you might get to make an argument for Federal prosecution. But even that would sort of astound me as the Feds sort of have more on their plate these days then bike thieves.
Now if they were loading the bikes full of PETN and then detonating them at events, you might have grounds for some Federal attention.
Now if they were loading the bikes full of PETN and then detonating them at events, you might have grounds for some Federal attention.
Was that a Boston joke? Too soon...
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I wear my mask at all times.
shut the front door.
I was thinking the other day about materials though. Remember back in the day when high end aluminum was THE exotic material, and you paid dearly for it? Oh, you actually want a light bike? Automatic huge premium. A few tried to make extremely light chromo frames at less than 4lbs, but they ended up too flexy.
It took a few years before aluminum came down and then it became the "normal" material for every bike.
Has the same thing happened with carbon fiber? It's been around almost as long as we've had mountain bikes.
It took a few years before aluminum came down and then it became the "normal" material for every bike.
Has the same thing happened with carbon fiber? It's been around almost as long as we've had mountain bikes.
this can definitely be done, but you need high quality steel, and a skilled welder.
not yet. companies know they can still charge a premium for it. part of the issue is when there's a change to a frame, you need a whole new mold. and tooling = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I'm talking $50k easily. (technically the same holds true for hydroformed stuff, but there's a little more wiggle room for milling and mitering rework once they're formed. with carbon, if its not good out of the mold, it goes in the scrap pile).
Guess I've been in industry too long when I see $50K for tooling and think that's cheap.
conservative estimate. i'd expect it to be more around 6 figures.
anyone need a $6,000 commuter bike that won't get you much exercise?
My $300 redline singlespeed is lighter and probably a better commuter bike
bikes were starting to get expensive when the higher end ones broke the $3k barrier for completes.
they were expensive, when the framesets broke the $2k barrier.
they are ridiculously expensive, now that even the not-top-of-the-line ones are more expensive than a ti sprung yamaha, or a fuel injected ktm; and top of the lines can fetch the price of a brand new car.
they were expensive, when the framesets broke the $2k barrier.
they are ridiculously expensive, now that even the not-top-of-the-line ones are more expensive than a ti sprung yamaha, or a fuel injected ktm; and top of the lines can fetch the price of a brand new car.
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that spesh has a motor and tops out at 28mph.
My singlespeed tops out at ~23mph, so that extra 5mph costs you $5700
And, depending on conditions, like downhill, I could probably hit 28mph. Then I would crap in my chamois.
People with money will spend it. The gap between rich and poor becomes more obvious.
I have hit the 30s on my Kona Unit...downhill, with a slight tailwind, on pavement with high pressure slicks. It was bad ass...
I hit 54 once on my road bike. I really thought that was gonna be the end of the Dirt saga.
Road bike...road bike...roadbike. Hmmm...I think I know of this "road-bike" of which you speak, they are strange, and are ridden by stranger people of whom I no longer associate with.
But it is pretty b!tchin to haul a$$ on one...
But it is pretty b!tchin to haul a$$ on one...
I had a crash on my xc bike while doing 48mph. Wanted to do a giro stage and the a storm came when I was going down. Good thing there was a gas station to stop me. The sight of a guy runing with a fuel hose only to be insta stoped when it ends was worth way more than my back wheel.
My singlespeed tops out at ~23mph, so that extra 5mph costs you $5700
And, depending on conditions, like downhill, I could probably hit 28mph. Then I would crap in my chamois.
sorry. should've clarified. that's uphill.
and the world thanks you....
Not that I'm against guns, but just starting the truck and putting it in motion (perhaps swiftly) makes theft pretty difficult, too. As a civilian, I'd be cautious of drawing a firearm under any circumstance less than a reasonably-anticipated threat of death or serious bodily injury. I mean, let's say that staring down the barrel of your Glock, the thief continues to steal your bikes. What are you going to do then, shoot him? You have no legal justification for doing so, and your bluff has been called.
Re: federal charges, the theft itself wouldn't be chargeable under anything I know in federal law, but this could apply in circumstances like those Dirt mentioned: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2314
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that would look nice next to a specialized s-works enduro 29er.
Yeah here in Texas there are a lot of tough guys that talk about how they would love to put a few rounds into a bike thief. Lets say, for grins, that you were within your rights and would not be found guilty. Even in that case, you would be spending thousands in legal costs and consume months of your time, potentially threatening your job because you might be in jail for a stint or have to meet with lawyers a lot.
There is being right, but that does not mean that life is easy for you.
I could not justify the taking of a life to protect a bicycle.
Well, depending on the bike...
(Just kidding.)
(About "depending on the bike." It is a bike, it is not worth a human life.)
Well, depending on the bike...
(Just kidding.)
(About "depending on the bike." It is a bike, it is not worth a human life.)
aim for the knee cap. most states that falls under assault with a deadly weapon.
or just pistol whip them.
or just pistol whip them.