Cultural artifact stolen: Have you seen this bike?
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on September 25th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Please contact me if you’ve seen it.
Few people in Portland’s bike scene put as much creativity and thought into their bikes (or their outfits) as Gabriel Amadeus Tiller. He’s got the zaniest collection of tall-bikes, freak chopper bikes, and mini-bikes I’ve ever come across.
times; competing in the
Zoobomb Century.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)
You’d think such distinct rigs would be theft-proof right? Unfortunately someone nabbed one of Gabe’s latest creations — a downhill-specific mini-bike named “Rad Amerika” — from Washington Park last Monday.
If you see this bike, contact Gabe via this thread in the Zoobomb Forum, or drop me a line and I’ll forward the info onto him directly.
Surely with all the eyes we’ve got on the street, someone must have seen this thing… let’s help return this artifact of Portland bike culture to its rightful owner!
[Thanks to Carl for the tip!]
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September 25th, 2007 16:40
who would want to ride that p.o.s.? it's his most uncomfortable bike to pedal.
September 25th, 2007 16:42
by the way, the front wheel is mine ;-P
September 25th, 2007 17:46
Dropout Bike Club has had a neon orange tallbike missing for about a year now. Anyone seen it?
Gabe's bike is a Schwinn Pixie BTW...
September 25th, 2007 19:45
Gak! What an eyesore. I hope it is found but that is one ugly bike.
September 25th, 2007 20:42
Good point, Mr. Viddy. When Gabe grows up he might be able to afford a taiwanese-made aluminum/carbon-fiber beauty with pretty paint and that hot new Shimano gruppo. Until then, he's just gonna have to run with the crap he builds in his basement.
Here are some more ugly pictures of his fleet of eyesores:
http://www.zoobomb.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=252
Someday Gabe...someday you'll own a Lemond...
September 25th, 2007 20:50
Carl,
My comment had nothing to do with supporting mass-produced bikes. It was a personal statement. I think the bike is ugly. I do not believe that every homemade or pieced together bike is ugly. Gak!
September 25th, 2007 21:02
No worries. Didn't mean to be so acidic, there. To each their own.
For me, ugly is the new pretty...and Gabe's got ugly in spades.
And Skidmark, great to know that Gabe's bike is a Schwinn Pixie... What make and model were the frames for that orange tallbike?
Oops, there's that acid again. Gotta get back to my chocolate milk.
September 25th, 2007 21:17
The were both mountain bike frames,the top one was a Magna girl's MTB and the bottom one was a boy's frame, probably a Magna as well. Deadbuny would know for sure. I think the neon orange paint is more of an identifier.
I would keep an eye out for this bike or parts of it @ Zoobomb, it would not be the first time someone jacked a bike and then showed up with it a different color or with some different parts.
September 25th, 2007 21:35
I'd rather ride this:
http://picocool.com/go/news/post/frog-inspired-bike-design/
September 25th, 2007 22:46
Oh man, if you think that's ugly (and I totally agree) you should see what's cooking in the lab. eeeesh!
Thanks for the support guys, I talked with folks at the parks dept and the hoyt arboretum, they've got they're eyes peeled too. It's true, who would chop a u-lock to get a bike that was nearly put together for free. There's got to be one stoopid "tweaker" out there somwhere. Here's the Finetoothcog info:
http://www.finetoothcog.com/site/bike_matches/1161
September 26th, 2007 08:24
1. Find bike
2. Bury bike
September 26th, 2007 08:51
#9...that's something.
September 26th, 2007 09:07
Frog Bike Rules!!
September 26th, 2007 09:59
A concept bike is likely not rideable. That bike has suspect rake and trail dimensions anyways.
September 26th, 2007 10:15
I'd say it's as least as rideable as the monstrosity above!
Just kidding. I don't know. But regardless, Frog Bike Rules!!
September 26th, 2007 10:17
Oh, and I hope Gabe finds his bike. I'll certainly keep an eye out for it. I doubt it'll be on the Springwater before sunrise or after sunset, but you never know.
September 26th, 2007 10:58
please note that if I ever complete my ZB bike-- which very well might be built on the Schwinn Pixie frame in my basement-- it's not Gabe's bike.
(glad mine's red and not blue)
September 26th, 2007 11:34
IMO, the frog bike is just as fugly, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
September 26th, 2007 13:04
Damn it, BURR, don't badmouth Frog Bike!
September 26th, 2007 21:20
O.K. . I checked the guys website. It looks like he hasn't actually built the frog bike, but only designed it on the computer. Hmmm...looked so real.
September 26th, 2007 21:24
so let's concentrate on the real stolen bike, eh? left locked up at the zoo, disappeared sat nite...I'm with SkidMark on this, zoobomb wannabe is my guess.
September 26th, 2007 21:47
Um, I don't think the Frog Bike is going to be much of a distraction in locating this, ahem, "cultural artifact," such as it is.
And yes, wsbob, the Frog Bike is just a design... for now. An Autocad wet dream. But think about what a great ZB bike it would make - cruising down the mountain on The Frog, you know? Ribbit. Woosh. Frogs don't belong locked up in the Zoo.
This culture is all about creativity and self-expression, right? Or do I have to conform by having a retread Frankenstein mini-bike like everyone else?
Anyway, like I said, I'm keepin my eye out. Every morning on the Springwater, I squint in the dawn half-light to see whether the spandex-clad racer passing me at 20 mph is on Rad Amerika. Maybe if we all concentrate real hard together we can visualize it's location. Yall wit me?
September 26th, 2007 21:48
So, in case it's not clear, I'm just trying to be funny. I really do hope Gabe finds his bike. There's a special place in hell for ZB wannabes ... I mean bike thieves.
September 26th, 2007 22:40
Could be the zoo bomb cops requisitioned the little critter for training purposes. They'd have the tool to bust a ulock. Of course, its "legal" for them to do that sort of thing.
September 26th, 2007 23:24
Wouldn't be the first time they stole our bikes.
September 27th, 2007 07:28
Really?
September 27th, 2007 11:06
Indeed. A sad story that was documented in the Trash Mountain Boys' holiday ditty, "I Saw Popo Ticket Santa Claus (Outside Rocco's Pizza Sunday Night)." Sadly, this epic story of bike love and loss has not yet been captured on a recording.
September 27th, 2007 11:17
Well, we know the PPB is filled with racists (see today's O), that certain members the PPB murdered James Chasse in cold blood, that certain other members are obsessed with ticketing cyclists for minor (or no) traffic infractions, and that one prominent member is a Nazi sympathizer, so it would not surprise me that their douchebaggery extends to stealing ZB bikes.
Why does such a great city have such a bunch of knuckle-draggers for cops?
Oh, and I hope Gabe finds his bike. And the Frog Bike rules!
September 27th, 2007 12:00
here's a link w/ photos to the IMC story on the PPB confiscation of zoobomb bikes in 2003.
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/09/271312.shtml
September 27th, 2007 16:48
Ah, the PPB. Obsessed with trivial displays of State power.