On a bicycle downtube…

“If every Jack and Gill loves bicycle so much, every road would be so marvelous place.” From Engrish Funny.

Them Germans know how to handle bike thieves — an 82 year old man has spent 46 years of his life in the clink for bike theft. He was first convicted in 1947, when he was 20 years old. Each time he gets out of prison, he goes right back to stealing bikes again.

Local police, who have nicknamed the bike thief “Buffalo Bill” because of his distinctive white mustache, say Rudi is always on the prowl with bolt cutters looking for bikes to take. “Once he wanted to peddle a mountain bike at the fair grounds. He just sprayed it with green paint. The paint smell was still fresh.” Rudi’s current prison term — his 45th — ends in October 2010, when bike thief Rudi P will be 85 years old.

More at The Berliner Kurier [Google translation here ]. Via Rad Spannerei in Germany.

This is the Google Map view of “Creepy Phil” Garrido’s backyard, where Jaycee Lee Dugard and her two children were imprisoned.

Note the blue tarps and tents. If you want to punch the address in yourself, it’s 1554 Walnut Avenue, Antioch, CA. Streetview is also available of this address.

I like the LA Times blog commentary on no helmet Obama as he rides around the bike paths of Martha’s Vineyard. Discussion also Copenhagenize.

Some of the reaction from the peanut gallery include “truly despicable,” and “What kind of fool doesn’t wear a helmet?”

If you want to wear a helmet on a slow bike ride, fine, but throw labels around like “fool” and “despicable” is way out of line, IMO.

The USA Pro Cycling Championships takes place this weekend. James lives there and I expect to see good photos from him. My friend and sometime contributor to Cyclelicious Michael Franken is also in Greenville this weekend to shoot some photos.

A friend needs to sell this frame, a new Serotta Meivici Custom Carbon Road Frameset 52cm. The eBay listing is here.