Abandoned Charge Plug Freestyler - a new hope?

Please read my later posts before commenting.

Hey guys,
First of all, fixie bikes are new to me. Not that I didn't know they existed, I've just never had a keen interest in them until now. Bikes have pretty much always been a part of my life, my dad having worked in a bike shop in the 70s/80s. There are tonnes of bitsers of all types in the garden, some perfect, some I've got plans for, others so dead they're waiting for the tip. Not one single speeder.

This one's a bit different though. On Monday, while doing my 'daily exercise' ride, I spotted this sad looking Charge bike, chained to a park fence, right next to a bus stop.

Quite a few things are wrong with it. The front wheel is completely gone, which is a shame, because the back one is a pinky red colour - from what I can find, these came with green rims. The back tyre's bald but still holding air, and the back brakes have vanished, as well as the lever.

What caught my interest was how weirdly unbuggered it is. The headset is threadless and not seized, the BB is free, the forks are fine and the frame's not bent. Even the chain still works... barely. The SS sprocket still ratchets fine and neither of them are hooked, the crown is the same. It even has some kind of rubbery protective coating sprayed underneath, which made finding the serial underneath a mini archaeology session. After looking at the pics, there might be a small crack on the downtube, just above the BB shell... it might just be the sticker, but there's also a gouge there with a helping of rust, so I'll go and double check that today. Seems unlikely though, because it'd be a lengthwise crack, on a steel frame? Bizarre.

(^ That little mark on the non-drive side is what I'm getting at, just on the 'G' of the sticker)

(For some reason, the stock forks have been painted over in grey (?))

(Charge was sponsored by Hotwheels, I've heard)

Nonetheless, I love this bike. Something about it really gels with me, it's simple with no faff. I'm an engineering nut and have always loved tinkering/stripping/restoring things. If I was to get this bike, I'd strip it right down to the frame and do a full resto/repaint on it, factory fresh. I know it's a freestyle bike but I don't think I'd use it for tricks so much, more as a fun cruiser for when I want my bike to work (no stupid gears!)

About that. I've emailed the council about it, with pictures, explaining the state it's in and the fact I'd gladly take it on if nobody claims it. Usually they chuck abandoned bikes if nobody wants them. Anyway, they said they'd get back to me within 10 days, so now I'm playing the waiting game.

So. My question is, is this even worth it? I can't remember ever riding an SS or fixie bike before, only similar looking road frames (conveniently, this Plug is a medium, and I'm 5ft10). And what about parts? Would I be able to source enough stuff to rebuild it? I'm thinking about asking Charge themselves, CSG (the people who own them) or even Nick Larsen himself if they could sell me a sticker set for it.

Even though these bikes are new to me, I'm definitely wanting to give it a try. Even if I don't get my grubby mits on this one. The history around Charge is brilliant, and I'd love to own one.

The serial number is HBMRK0533.

Thanks,
ggreen

Look, someone could have locked this up before any of the lockdowns and then not been able to get back to it. Just because someone's been stealing parts off it doesn't mean it's abandoned.

I wouldn't count on there having been a back brake and lever seeing as the cable guides are missing too. I'd bet the owner took it off to look more like a sweet fixie even though it's run single speed.

I doubt it. It's not impossible, but even if it hasn't been abandoned, I mentioned in the email to the council that I'd only have it if nobody claimed it, I even offered to keep it safe at home as-is until they deemed it ownerless. What I really want to get out of this is to give the bike a good home, not have it for myself. Chances are that if it was left much longer, the council (being a pretty eco-clean-mental one) would probably have it chucked in a skip, something I definitely don't want happening.

There are reasons to suggest it was abandoned, and reasons it mightn't. My dad said what could've happened is, it was chained up, the front wheel was stolen, and the person came back to it with the wheel missing. Instead of taking it home, they might've just left it there thinking it wasn't worth the hassle. It has Cateye light mounts front and rear, and a silicone coating underneath, the only things that suggest it was looked after at some stage.

There also isn't much evidence it came far. The frame's pretty clean without trace of mud or grit anywhere, which has to mean something, having 700cs and no mudguards. All that's on it is thick diesel-like soot all over the frame, similar to the stuff on the Underground, which probably came from the buses.

It's a very odd place for it to be, too. It's beside a pretty active bus stop and small park, hardly out of sight, which confuses me. It's in a built up area, my thinking is that if they locked it there just to pop to the shops or meet someone, they'd be back in time to collect it. I don't think the lockdowns would stop it moving, especially if the owner was only within walking distance.

A look on Google Streetview says it wasn't there at least until March 2018. But I'd still call a bike left in the same spot for over 2 years abandoned, at least worth telling the council about. The frame's paint is faded on the top with numerous rust spots, the seat's weathered, the tyre and seat are rotten. From my experience of fixing dumped/neglected bikes, that type of damage only comes with at least 6-12 months of the elements.

I hope you understand, sorry if I sounded like 'hey look what I found'.

You're right, I've been thinking about that. I've seen ones of these with no brakes at all, of course on a fixie you don't really need brakes. Looks like it did have them at one point, the wheel's worn and the mounting hole on the frame is rusty. I went looking for the guides and again, you're right - there are none. There's just a single clip on the left side of the head tube, which looks about right for holding an outer cable.

From what I understand, having no brakes (back ones especially) means no cable to get wrapped flipping the bars for tricks.

It’s not your bike. Leave it alone. Sounds like you’re trying to get approval for jacking someone’s ride. So craven....

Yeah gotta agree with others, its not your bike. Unless the bike is literally unlocked and thrown on the street or a bin, don't touch it.

Don't a lot of London councils put some signage on a bike shortly before removing it. You could wait for that and get back in touch with the council.

Ok, no.

Just because the bike is weathered does not mean its been locked in that spot for ages.
Leave it.

'What I really want to get out of this is to give the bike a good home, not have it for myself'

If they find the original owner, then great. They can have it by all means. Don't know about any of you, but I hate to see bikes like these rot in the elements.

I'm doing nothing with it, either. I am 'leaving it'. I've only taken pictures. If nobody cares about it any more (someone might, as you say - I knew this) then I do. I like saving stuff. I'm not showing off, not looking for recognition -

I was only asking, if the council asked me to take it, whether it would be worth fixing up in its current state. That's all. Heck, if they find the owner later on and I've already done it up, they can have it. One less dead bike, that's all it'd mean to me.

So please don't jump to conclusions.

So please don't jump to conclusions.

You want to steal a bike.

This is the thread you're looking for;
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/127482/?offset=700#comment15461163

I don't. If it really is abandoned, I want to recover a bike instead of having it destroyed, which is what most councils do when you report them.

It depends on what they say. If they don't literally say 'take it' then that's end of story.

Weird thread.

Anyway, maybe you could check on google street view, you can look years back to see what was there at the time. If it's been there without a front wheel for more than a year, I think you have every right to take it.

You are not leaving it. You are actively pursuing it. Some people don't have room for a bike in there house so leave a tatty bike locked on the street. The front wheel may have been removed to prevent theft. Just because its not on street view two years ago does not imply its been there for two years. Stop trying to justify to yourself and others your need to take something that does not belong to you. forget about it and if you want a bike go and buy one.

Streetview only goes to April 2018, it wasn't there then. My dad vaguely remembers it being there in 2019, it had a matching red front wheel. Other than that, there's no solid date attached to how long it's been there. I've rarely used the route it's on so I haven't been going past it regularly at all. Not enough to know enough datewise.

I also have plenty of bikes, as I said in the OP. It's not like I need another one. It would just be nice to 'recover a bike instead of having it destroyed', if you've been reading.

Not sure where the hostility's coming from. Again, I'll only touch it if the council says so. Otherwise it's staying there, and I'll forget about it. End of.

Hmm, I considered taking one that had been there broken for about 5 years. If you don't really have evidence it's completely abandoned, leave it alone.

Dude that's my bike! This is so messed up.

If it is, would you be able to say where it is? Or did you not put it there? (PM from here I'd say)

I was cycling passed the playground when I saw another cyclist with a flat front tyre. We both didn't have any spare tubes so I gave him my front wheel. He said he would return it the next day, same spot and time. But he never showed up! What an arse. No good deed...

So much pearl clutching going on. OP's found an obviously abandoned bike. At least they asked the council not just rocked up with some croppers.

Do you still have the key to the lock? From what I saw there are marks on the chain where people have tried cutting it.

But again, do you remember where exactly it is? Like even what borough? Just to make sure it's yours.

Really? Theft is theft.

Again, I'll only touch it if the council says so

Council can only remove, the council does not own the bike. Hence the bike is disposed of. Usually to a cycling charity we would hope.