Time for a police report

STAR TRIBUNE WHISTLEBLOWER COLUMN:

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/98167519.html

What a frustrating situation. I wonder what Dominick's motivation is, at this point, to not return the bike.

Dear investors, abandon me.

Feel sorry for the bike tour or whathaveyou that signed this guy on to "Tattoo you bike"

Nice article Kyle!

Dominick, is this enough to make you return the bike to Kyle? I sure hope so, now everyone who reads the Strib knows how ridiculous this whole situation has become.

I'd just like to share this article that was printed about me in the Star Tribune yesterday (Sunday).

I'd also like to point out that none of the information that Lora Pabst decided to print was true.

The only accurate part about the article is the fact that Kyle had to wait longer than he wanted to for his frame. I have already spoken with a Mpls Police Officer and clarified the situation on Saturday: the same day that I had a chance to call Lora Pabst back and offer for her to come by the studio to see the finished frame and answer any questions she had. But, without contacting me for my side of the story, she went ahead and printed the one-sided article anyway.

I was also planning a fundraising event to help cover costs for the studio, and have a chance to showcase my latest, innovative works. But Lora Pabst, a reporter from the star tribune, decided to contact Artspace (the property management company) and escalated the issue with them, so now I will be getting evicted in 30 days without any opportunity to hold the planned event. Thanks Lora.

It is unfortunate that Kyle will now have a beautifully painted custom frame, fork and matching fenders to ride around on for many enjoyable years to come, and in return, I am getting sued and evicted from my art studio without an opportunity to hold the fundraising event / art opening.

So thanks to everyone who was supportive throughout this entire ordeal, and thanks to everyone who was not.

Sincerely,

Dominick Austin
Proud Owner of D Austin Custom Cycles

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.startribune.com%2Flocal%2Fnorth%2F98167519.html%3Felr%3DKArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O%253ADW3ckUiD3aPc%253A_Yyc%253AaULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsT&h=9b761-eGajDlBhDs1lkTyQsuVxQ

For those that haven't seen it yet, there's this story at the Star Trib:
http://www.startribune.com/investigators/98167519.html

I was planning on delivering a frame to him in August for painting. Looks like Chris Kvale will be getting my business.

Good luck Dominick.

This thread is why I love this message board. Also I will very curious to see the finished bike, that is if it is actually finished. I think there are pictures of it on his Facebook page.

http://twitter.com/Mpls_Bike_Tour/status/18365433022

Nice work Mpls Bike Tour! You did the right thing. Or at least the smart thing!

Dominick, I sincerely believe that you could have resolved this months ago if you had been upfront and returned the bike as is, at Kyle's request. I think it has reached this point because I, like many others on this thread, don't believe that Kyle will have a beautifully painted bike as you said in your reply. You also mentioned in your open letter on Facebook in late April that you might be evicted in June, so please don't blame Lora or Kyle for that action, or the cancellation of your fundraising event / art opening.

I hope to hear from Kyle today, tomorrow, or sometime soon that he has his bike back. I'm sure he'll let us know, and probably post photos, so we can all see what condition it's in. It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but you had the opportunity to resolve it and didn't.

I think it's weird the bike's name is "Melanie." Just a strange bike name, is all. IMO.









That's all I have to add to this. I'll be over here, practicing whistling... and in trying to be inconspicuous about it, will do so into my shirt.

oh yeah i forgot to mention, for everyone who is still concerned about the trek bike, it has already been arranged to be delivered this week. the frame was actually finished on Thursday July 8th (graphics & clear coating). So I brought it back to the studio to cure and take some photos of the finished paint job. The coating I put on it to protect the paint needs 4-5 days to cure (dry) fully and harden before it can be handled. otherwise, the paint job will be wrecked.

it is impossible to "cancel" a paint order after a bike has already been painted. Kyle was aware of the status of his frame, as I gave him progressive updates. So when he asked for a full refund and the frame back, he already knew it had been stripped, primed, and painted. the graphics were partially done, and then it just needed clear coating after that. So i am not sure how to "cancel" an order for materials already on the frame, and many labor hours worked to achieve this.

If he had asked for his frame back at the beginning of the process, I would have gladly given him the frame back and a full refund.

here are a couple photos of the bike with the final coatings:

Wow, that's gorgeous. Can you paint a frame for me?