Bikes slaughtered on Lincoln trails! Oh! The humanity!!!

Good day, I'm NOA, reporting live from the John Dietrich Trail in Lincoln Nebraska.

The following report may be disturbing to sensitive audiences.

Now, with the women and children out of the room, we bring you the latest disturbing news from the John Dietrich Trail. The aftermath of these disgusting crimes was witnessed by NOA President and CEO, yours truly.

These explicit photos are only being shown to illustrate the magnitude of the horrific acts committed on our public trails. I personally can testify that the blue BSO had been chained up to the same trail-side shelter throughout this last week, obviously abandoned, but it wasn't until today that I saw the front wheel had been stolen.

I'm not making racial slurs when I use the N-word. I'll be the first to tell you that in this day and age no one should treat one bike with any less dignity or respect than another just because its a 'Next'.

The cycling community should be outraged at this kind of violence against bikes! The abuse inflicted on the Mongoose is unspeakable. The thrashed derailleur and mutilated saddle are unmistakable proof that individuals are on the loose, set out to clear the trails of discount store bikes.

Now, more than ever, we need to come together as a community to set an example to the culprits of these awful acts! We should all agree that regardless of where a bike comes from, be it a good, respectable LBS or a big-box store, they all deserve the same love and respect we would give to our own much loved bikes.

Sure, we all know that no true cyclist would commit such abuse and neglect. And that these acts were surely by the hand of criminals who have no respect for bicycles that deserve to be loved and cared for.

Lincoln prides itself on it's diversity, and we need to embrace all bikes and realize that bike love must... now, more than ever, cross lines and we must show by example that all bikes are safe from abuse and neglect on our streets and paths.

Lets band together to fight against those who steal and loot. And draw attention to those bikes that can not speak for themselves. Our fair city needs to be known as a place that bikes from all around the world can come to. They need to know that they'll be loved, cared for and have the same rights and privileges bestowed upon them as the bikes that first blazed our trails many years ago.

I beg of you, do not turn a blind eye to these hate crimes any longer! When you witness a bike being stealthily removed off a porch or snuck out of a garage or lifted out of an unassuming front yard or neighborhood bike rack, report the crime to the authorities and lets put an end to this abuse right now!

Live from the John Dietrich Trail in Lincoln, I'm the NOA. Now, back to you...

Today's commute to work and back = 19.94 miles.