Bike rental problems with Rat's Bikes?

[unjonharley]

Make sure you get lights, a stand & combination lock (its easier than worrying about a key) for your bike.

Top tip for first timers is make sure you park it near something you're going to remember as trying to find a bike amongst several hundred isn't the easiest thing to do especially if you've had a drink or whatever...!

You have had a few o those drink.. Then go looking for your bike.. You can't find it..
You've had enough drinks, you can't find your own ass..

What happens next is how most lost bikes happen.. Your drunk, your bike in under a pile of bikes and you say fuck it.. I'll just take this one it's unlocked..

[grondl]

I also rented a bike at Rat (Ray) and paid for it in February.
Since I haven't gotten anything back from him, I filed a claim with my bank (paypal doesn't do it, if it is beyond 45 days).

I am also worried about his whereabouts, since he is doing that business since years, I can't imagine that he took off with all the money (also taking into account, that he is definitely running a good business with that and making lots of money for a short time per year, why ruin it for a one time thing and risk going to jail?)

In his announcement of moving to Gerlach, he writes that he will move to 305 Diablo Drive in Gerlach, where also the bikes are for pick up. Anyone can contact someone who is in the area (there are already some people on, and going to, the playa) who can check that address and see if he is there?

Actually, I just called Bruno's in Gerlach and they never heared of a Ray Leslie. That address Ray gave in the email to all of us who rented bikes from him is an open lot where people are going to put up stands for Burning Man, but nothing is there yet. Also no Ray. They gave me other names of people they know doing bikes for Burning Man in Gerlach, but no Ray Leslie. So I am getting sceptic where that guy is. He is apparently not in Reno/Sparks, as someone else posting here double checked and also not in Gerlach (assuming that guys at Bruno know everything that is going on in that sleepy nest).

If the bikes are not at his place in Reno/Sparks and also not at that lot in Gerlach, where are they?

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe call the Gerlach office? or is that asking too much of a group of busy people?

[Eric]

Maybe call the Gerlach office? or is that asking too much of a group of busy people?

This close to the event I wouldn't bother them. They're dealing with getting everything ready to start set-up, they don't have time to act as a go-between for a private business & it's customers, even when it's someone as well known as Rat.

This is sadly between Rat (who is not responding), the customers, and the customers credit-card companies.

[lemur]

it looks like the burning man official types have already chimed in on this

Rat's Bikes - Did you rent a bike from Rat's Bikes?
We have previously recommended Ray "Rat" Leslie of Reno-Sparks, Nevada, who rented bikes for the playa exclusively to those travelling from overseas. Unfortunately, we've received several reports he has taken reservations but is no longer responding to inquiries. We have made repeated attempts to contact him without success and thus we can no longer recommend him for playa bikes. If you have already made a bike rental arrangement with Rat and have not heard back from him, let us know by emailing renopages [at] burningman [dot] com, as we may be able to point you in another direction for a bike in the Reno-Sparks area.

Burning Man Update: The Jack Rabbit Speaks Volume 17, Issue #26 BIKES July 10, 2013

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe it's the format, or something, but I just don't like reading that email...

[lemur]

sure, they could put it on the interwebs in a modern fancy looking format..

but how would they be able to leverage a gigantic 300,000 person email list THAT way?

[theCryptofishist]

So as far as it goes, the fact that I subscribe (and on two different email addresses) is far more important to them than the fact I don't read it.

[grondl]

Let's stay on topic:

I now called the Burning Man office in Gerlach, and they told me the same as the guys from Bruno's: The address in Gerlach Ray gave in his emails is empty, noone there.

[lucky420]

Let's stay on topic:

bwahahahahaha, you must be new here

[tummler]

"Thread drift"? Did someone say "thread drift"?

[trilobyte]

Sure, grondl, I'll stay on topic and put the matter to rest. Quoting lemur's quote from the JRS post from several weeks back.

Rat's Bikes - Did you rent a bike from Rat's Bikes?
We have previously recommended Ray "Rat" Leslie of Reno-Sparks, Nevada, who rented bikes for the playa exclusively to those travelling from overseas. Unfortunately, we've received several reports he has taken reservations but is no longer responding to inquiries. We have made repeated attempts to contact him without success and thus we can no longer recommend him for playa bikes. If you have already made a bike rental arrangement with Rat and have not heard back from him, let us know by emailing renopages [at] burningman [dot] com, as we may be able to point you in another direction for a bike in the Reno-Sparks area.

That's as official an answer as you'll see, and to that end I'm closing up this thread.