One of the first things I noticed was the overall crappy nature of the bikes that people ride here. I thought it was people's way of being unique or ironic . . . kind of like how it's cool to not wear deodorant or wash your hair here. A lot of the bicycles are actually kind of vintage and cool (not wearing deodorant? Still not cool), so I didn't think much of it.
This morning I woke up and discovered that my bike wasn't in the place where I'd left it. My first reaction was to kick myself for not locking it up correctly, but on closer examination I found that they'd actually cut right through the lock. Now, when I bought my lock I decided spend a few extra bucks and get one of the expensive, thick cables. The ones that are supposed to give you better protection than those thin crappy cables you used when you were 7. So much for that "investment." I might has well been locking up my bike with rope.
My bike wasn't super nice. Brand new it was 500.00 dollars, a big investment at the time for a poor college student. It was supposed to get me through the next four years, at least. I appreciated my bike, and took care of it. I loved the feeling of riding it to school or work, especially when I first got it, I remember catching myself just smiling as I rode along--I felt like a little kid again. Now it's being disassembled, sold for parts, or being traded for crack or meth, who knows what. Someone will end up with the bike eventually, but they won't appreciate it like I did.
I learned something today though. I learned that people here aren't making some sort of fashion or political statement when they ride their beat-up, 1955, rusted through beach cruiser around. They just take comfort in knowing there is a very low demand for crappy bikes on the black market.
