SE Portland bike shop broken into last night

Broken window at A Better Cycle.

A Better Cycle, a worker owned and collectively run bike shop in Southeast Portland (2324 SE Division St.), was broken into last night.

Shop co-owner Ian Mitchell says sometime between 8:00 pm last night and 10:00 am this morning, someone threw a rock into one of the shop’s side windows and stole several bikes. Keep you eyes peeled for: Two, red Civia “Twin Cities” models with step-over frames (worth $595 each); a green, 54 cm Civia “Prospect” (worth $1195); and an all white Pure Fix fixed gear with deep-V rims and riser bars (worth $350).

Here are photos of all three bikes:

A Better Cycle has been open since December of 2007 and Ian says this is the first time they’ve been broken into. Besides the bikes and associated damage, Ian shared this morning that perhaps the biggest bummer is that the thief/thieves broke their beautiful, custom neon sign in the shape of an old high-wheel bike.

A police report has been filed. Keep your eyes peeled!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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Ian Mitchell
12 years ago

one small correction, the two Twin Cities that were stolen were the Step Over models, not the Step Through. 58cm and 61cm by Civia’s specs.

HAL9000
HAL9000
12 years ago

I’ve got a bucket of tar ready. Someone needs to track this guy down!

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
12 years ago
Reply to  HAL9000

I’ll supply the feathers… anybody got a rail?

naomi
naomi
12 years ago

this makes me sad 🙁 i once went there when i needed help with a tire and a fender and the guy there was the most kind, helpful and amazing person ever — a nice change-up from some of the more rude/condescending personalities i’ve found at other local shops. hopefully they catch the thief/thieves who did this.

wsbob
wsbob
12 years ago

Gosh that red step through Civia pictured above has a beautiful frame. Always love seeing bikes with that type of gracefully downward curving top tube.

Busted windows and stolen bikes are depressing. Wish the shop owner didn’t have to endure that. I suppose this means ugly steel bars behind the windows.

Spiffy
Spiffy
12 years ago

low end bikes, not the usual target… likely homeless people or addicts wanting transportation… it’s not worth it to regular bike thieves to try and turn something they can only sell for $100… we’ll see these with spray paint over them on the Springwater trail…

beth
12 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

There’s a whole bunch of us in Portland who would be loathe to call an $1,100 bike “low-end”. Several hundred dollars for a bike is still beyond the reach of many who ride for transportation.
Nevertheless, this is a *truly* crappy development and I hope they catch the jerks.

specialK
specialK
12 years ago

Bummer, man. These guys rock.

dwainedibbly
dwainedibbly
12 years ago

Two words: Shop dog. You don’t need to be able to stop any thief, you just need to make him think twice. In this “internet of things”, it would be cool to have webcams that were activated by the sound of a dog barking.

Sorry to hear about the B&E.