Free Trek (minus a front wheel)

[oregone]

Hi. I hope I'm posting this in the appropriate place.
I'm an apartment manager in SE and someone moved to chicago a few months ago and left her bicycle. The window in which she can legally reclaim it has expired, so I'm offering it here for free. The catch is that you have to remove it from a bike rack and it's locked with a U-Lock thingie. I have no idea how to break/pick the lock. I'd really like to get the laundry room floor painted, but can't do that without removing this bike. It's a trek mountain bike, and it's at the queen marie on 20th and Salmon. I'll try to get a better description up later this afternoon if no one claims it sooner.
Oh, and if you feel bad about taking a free bicycle, I like Full Sail.
Finally, I just reread this post and it sounds a little sketchy. So let me know if you need proof that the bike is mine to give away.
Thanks!

[bay2la]

i have a similar question. there is an old schwinn cruiser locked up in my laundry room that has been stagnant for over two years (no chain, flat tires, signs of rust) so i put a note on it saying that i was going to take the bike if no one claimed it. no one responded so i figure it is up for grabs.

how do i pick that damn kryptonie u lock? it is an older model and has the round key. i tried using a bic pen by removing the insides, smashing the hollow pen tube into the key hole and turning the tube. but nothing, the pen tube either breaks or just twists without grabbing the little threads.

help.

[nm973]

A hacksaw, or a power grinder and a lot of patience.

[rainperimeter]

are you using a white bic, not one of those clear ones?

[oregone]

If there were a bike charity in town that could pick these locks, I could donate about 3-5 bikes a year. Granted, most of the abandoned ones are kinda crappy and not as nice as this trek so it might not be worth their time.

[fetishridr]

it probably isnt worth the time spent cutting it off, but if you had liquid nitrogen and hammer, it would go pretty quick. its a controlled substance, but so is laughing gas, and we know how those dentists get.

you could also try a couple of 40's of old english and bottle collector. where there's a will there's a way.

[bay2la]

yeah, i tried one of the white bics with the somewhat malleable tubing.


what do you mean by the 40's of OE ???????

[fetishridr]

the old english would attract a lot of cheap labor to cut for you

[mike_khad1]

What about offering it to the Community Cycling Center? They are begging for old bicycle donations. Maybe then can send someone over to cut the lock and take the bike.

[bay2la]

yeah right. maybe if i was raking shit in but naw, i need a summer cruiser.