Stolen bikes GALORE, including Mr. D'Amico's wifes bike!

Maybe it's the tough economic times, but it seems that bicycle theft has been RAMPANT as of late. The ATXBS Stolen Bikes Registry has had FIVE bikes posted to it since last Friday, and the UT Campus Watch Report has been chock full of stolen bike reports. It's rather disheartening to hear about all these bikes getting jacked, and how very few of them are ever returned to their owners.

I don't like ranking crime, specifically when it pertains to bicycle theft, but the most egregious of them all happened yesterday, when Mr. D'Amico of the LOBV and the BicycleAustin Blog had his and his wife's bikes stolen from in front of a church. Talk about bullshit! He's one of the (if not the) biggest bicycle advocates in town, working tirelessly to advance cyclists causes on a multitude of fronts. Whoever stole his bike should be shot, then hung. Or maybe vice versa. Either way, it should be brutal. Here's what he posted about it in the Stolen Bikes Registry:

I had the feeling when I chained up the bikes that I should have brought the U-Lock, even if it was a Sunday afternoon in front of the church.

Too late now. My wife and I went to a workshop on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the First United Methodist Church at 12th and Lavaca and chained two bikes below with a regular-old cable lock. We went in at 11:50 and emerged at 2 p.m. to find them gone.

Here’s what’s missing:

Trek 5700 Hybrid, 2008 See: http://bicyclesportshop.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibID=48399
Silver and Gold
Has a distinctive light brown seat
Black Bike Rack
Light and Seat Blinkie and Bell

And here’s the dinger…since I had a broken spoke on my hybrid, I dragged out an old 1995 Mongoose Mountain Bike…can’t remember the model, but it was covered in stickers including:

Ireland
Slusher for Mayor
Waterloo Records

Slusher for mayor? How’s that for some history!

If you see it, simply email damico@lobv.org

Even though the Trek was a much more valuable bike, it really saddens my heart to hear about the old Mongoose. I know we live in a time of disposable resources, planned obsolescence, and a marketing culture built to drive us towards needless upgrades and replacement all in the pursuit of enhanced performance, but I for one LOVE to see the old beater bikes that still roll around, covered in stickers, rust and grime, yet you can tell by the maintenance of the drive train, or by the selection of components that the owner loves and takes care of the bike. Sure, I feel for the doctor roadie when his $3500 Colnago goes missing, but when a bike with history goes missing, that's a truly sad day. Good luck recovering your bike, Rob! If I see anyone on either steeds, I'll do what I can.