Every week, the Mercury hangs out drinking 40s on the street, trying to spot sexy bikes and bring you a mini-interview with their rough-riding handlers. This time, we were in luck: at the #10 bus stop on 4th Ave., a posse of three blingin’ lowriders were sitting outside a convenience store, their makers drinking booze from coffee cups and smoking cigars.

Rider: Matthew Gramling
Bike: Three custom-detailed Schwinn lowriders, with gold and silver paint jobs and lots of skulls
Spotted At: Bus stop on 4th Avenue downtown

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How did you get into making bikes like these?
I grew up in Southern California and I realized there wasn’t anything like this out here yet. My real thing is low rider cars, these are just a hobby.

What kind of bike is this?
It’s a 67 Schwinn. Powder coated candy apple with gold flakes in the paint. This bike is all real gold. It costs about $1,500.

And you put it on the front of the bus?
Do I look like someone who people would try to rip off? I used to have some trouble with people not paying for bikes I’d done, I was too nice and then I’d have to go to their house and take them back.

Have you ever had any altercations in trying to get a bike back?
Nah, I used to repo cars for a living.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

18 replies on “Sexy Bike!”

  8. you cuntbags and your shitty fixed gears. i ought to swerve into you pieces of urban white trash and hope that salvaging your life, let alone your bike should be what’s on your mind.

    peace out fuckers

  9. Sirs:

    The bicycle shown is garish and pedestrian.

    And “youdeserveit” — I believe help for your particularly obnoxious form of dementia is readily available at any bicycle shop or psychiatric hospital. You, sir, are pathetic.

    I remain,

    Jacomus

  11. why can’t some of you haters!!!! who seem to be bike lovers be happy with whats being done with some of these bicycles??? yes they may be old skool schwinns, but hey it’s his form of transportation and so what if he tricks it out!!!if you are a car lover would it tick you off if he tricked out his 49 merc???or would you say..”hey nice old car” whats the diff????maybe that stick that some how got crammed up your rear and fried your way of think’n needs to be removed!!!haters!!!or are you just jealous cuz you don’t have or can make one!!!!

  13. “Every week, the Mercury hangs out drinking 40s on the street, trying to spot sexy bikes and bring you a mini-interview with their rough-riding handlers.”

    God, that’s fucking stupid.

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