(Photo: Nate Gibson)
Thanks to the quick thinking and brave action of a bike shop employee in southwest Portland, one of three track racing bikes stolen from Alpenrose Velodrome last week has been recovered.
Nate Gibson, an undergrad at Portland State University and employee at Southwest Bicycle, contacted us today with the good news.
Here’s Gibson’s version of events:
“So here goes, I’m finally calm enough to sit down and type.
So, I’m walking back to my shop from the coffee shop when I see a guy (young male with his shirt unbuttoned) on a track bike. I instantly knew something was wrong and followed him around the corner. My brain said “that’s the bike stolen from alpenrose!” So, I grabbed him and asked “where the fuck did you get that bike?” He claimed he “bought it in north Portland for $300” I said “bullshit you did” and grabbed the saddle and refused to let go, while asking a guy walking buy to call 911.
He tried to take off but I wouldn’t let go and managed to try and snap pictures at he same time so at least I’d have his photo in case he did break free.
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Safe and sound.
(Photo @ElroyArt on Twitter)Me and the bystander had to hold him for about 15 minutes before the cops did show up. He kept screaming obscenities at me and tried to wrestle away many times. I let the air out of the rear tire so in case he did get away he wouldn’t be able to ride it. But being a track bike with no brakes, track pedals and tall gearing, it would have been extremely difficult to actually ride anyway.
The officers that showed up knew exactly which bike it was, as they just personally filed the report. They were very helpful and the one officer was taking about how stoked he was that we recovered it and that “bike thieves make him sick”.
Very nicely done Nick! I think Stephen McLaughry owes you a debt of gratitude for getting his bike back to him safe and sound.
This reminds me of many other recoveries we’ve had over the years thanks to bike shop employees. There’s something about a trained eye that can spot odd bike/biker situations. Now, hopefully the other two bikes turn up.