Not very Funny

[Sky King]

This was just so strange I have to post.

Saturday afternoon 3 of us rode over to a sports bar to watch the Boise State football game. As per usual, one lousy bike rack so we locked up to a very tall chain link fence that divides the bar parking lot from a bike shop next door. The bike shop sells mostly cruisers and skate boards so I have never been in it but we have referred people to them for cruiser service work as we don't sell or service cruisers.

Anyway, the DH rode over close to the end of the game to join us for a beer. Game ends, we head out to unlock the bikes and ride home. The DH's Gilles Berthoud front bag has been zip tied to the fence! One of our friends said "oh, the last time I was here somebody zip tied my helmet to the fence (he had it locked with his bike). There were a few people sitting out behind the bike shop and a few others leaning against the bar laughing. One of the guys on the bike shop side of the fence says, oh they are just messing with you, would you like to borrow some wire snips. Again, giving us the impression this happens often.

We were so stunned we can't remember which way the zip tie was on the fence - as in, was it done from the bike side or from the bar side. Needless to say the DH was not amused.
So we are still trying to decide - does the bar not want customers on bikes? does the bike shop not want bikes locked to the fence? are we being too sensitive?
This is someplace we normally don't frequent so it is super easy to move on knowing I will never return.

I am grateful that his front bag didn't "walk", I was surprised he hadn't taken off the bike (whew) but I did find the entire event quite strange

[Melalvai]

Ugh. I'm glad you don't have to go back there.

[indysteel]

Wow; how childish.

[Wasp]

Wow, that is weird. My first thought was how many people going to a bar take zip ties with them?. Where as the bike shop would have a ready supply. But, who knows.....could of been anyone. Sorry to hear this happened to you.

[ride4fun]

Not very funny at all.
I would be wondering what side did it as well and I would have a hard time going back there.
Either way both places would lose my business.
As someone that rides in the Boise area I am trying to figure out where you were LOL I do not want to go there.
(I know quite a few people that keep zip ties in there trucks so it could be from either side.)Still not funny.

[marni]

I would write a note to the owners of both establishments deatiling the event and the reactions while mentioning the number of bikes (potential customers or current customers) involved and inform both buisnesses that they had just lost that many current and potential customers and that you will not be mentioning either business in a postive note in the future.

Good manners and tolerance are endangered creatures and should be protected along with good buisiness practices.

I am old and crotchety and don't have time or patience for smart alec or I am doing you a service to be in servic groups. I can easily take my money ad walk.

just sayin.

[Biciclista]

um. Zip ties. I hear a new one every day. All i could think of was that someone was keeping someone else from stealing your bike. but, no that was an obnoxious joke. I agree wit Marni; write a note; you do have a shop yourself and you can talk as a professional to a professional.

[Sky King]

I knew I was right in posting this. Thanks for the feedback and yes, I will write a note of concern to both places of business w/o going negative and let you all know if I get a response.
ride4fun - we went to the dutch goose, next to bike to boards on State street. Come see me sometime and we can talk about dirt roads :)

[malkin]

Lately I seem to be asking myself:

What is wrong with people?

[Swan]

That does sound really, really odd...

But as someone mentioned, it's more likely that it was the bike shop... and since it was the front bag that was zip tied, do you suppose that maybe the shop was trying to do a small favour (in a very strange way) by making certain no one walked off with it by zipping it closed to the fence?