Back Issues Feature Bikes In The Magazine

POOR SPORT

May 2, 2011

Article and Photos By:
Cycle Nazi

Michael Geltz, better know as “Weasel,” is a good friend of mine, and also the builder of this fine machine properly titled “Poor Sport.” “Poor Sport” got its name due to the fact that at the time of the motorsickle’s transformation, Weasel’s bank account lacked pennies. Geltz really hated the idea of riding a stock two wheeler around but didn’t have the funds to go crazy and build a big money, fancy bike. So, he went the next best route and took a turd, formed, polished, and hand crafted it into a simple Iowa built chop.

Weasel bought the bike from his dad in stock form back in the early 2000s. He quickly stripped it down to basically just the frame, shaving off a ton of weight and a bunch of unnecessary junk. Geltz rode it around for about a year and a half in its stripped down condition. While in his hometown of Keokuk, Iowa, Michael unfortunately got into some legal troubles, like a lot of us do. As word started to get around, he made the decision to get out and head west for awhile. I’m sure some of you know small town Midwest and that a few thousand people typically tend to drive a person nuts with shit-talking. So, it was see ya later for Michael.

Michael took off on a solo adventure for about a month, ripping the pre “Poor Sport” on the southern route to L.A. He slept in cheap, ground-level rooms only to roll his bike in at night, and crashed at friends’ houses till he finally reached the City of Angels. “I just needed to get away. It was an amazing trip out, especially riding alone. It was like a spiritual experience,” exclaimed Weasel. He hit L.A. for a min. and then it was off to Oakland for a week, chilling and
M hanging with buds the entire time. Soon it was time to hit the northern route back home to Iowa; the long-ass trip totaled around 5500 miles or so.
Inspiration for this bike came one day while out in Los Angeles.

Weasel was rolling around and was
passed by this dude riding a super low-slung Evo chop; Geltz just thought that was the coolest thing ever. Shortly after his return home, he knew the direction he was going to take. Memories of that dude blastin’ by him had been burned into his mind. Only problem was, Geltz lacked the money. He also had a few other obstacles to overcome. For starters, they didn’t have a garage, but being optimists, they realized they did have a kitchen: problem solved.

It’s the typical dirt bag story: built the bike in the house, pushed the ktichen
table out of the w a y , used the sink as a parts washer, the cupboards for tools and parts storage; this was the beginning of the “Poor Sport’s” life. Weasel said that 90% of the bike was done in the kitchen of the bachelor pad.
After his inspirational experience back in
L.A., and converting the kitchen into a makeshift garage, he got his start with the bike when he picked up an old Paughco frame for real cheap. He snagged a smaller sporty tank and a trailer fender for pitons and it was Biker
Build-Off – Martha Stewart style. The legs were shaved the old fashion way, using a grinder and a flapper disc. He used every asset available and everything seemed to come together for the build. Obviously at the time, Weasel hadn’t a red cent to put up, so it was amazing he was able to come up with the 700 bucks that was spent on this bike. That’s what rules about this type of person. He can see inspiration, develop a little know-how, and obtain plenty of drive to accomplish an end result. It’s one thing this country has going for it; the drive of the common man and the ability to make something rad outta a stale P.O.S. I’m stoked to have a really killer guy like Geltz in my very own state.

Michael says the build’s five or so years old and a lot of shit could be done to it. At the time when he was building it, he really hadn’t honed the skills to build a “show” bike, nor did he have the resources. These days he has became a gnarly painter, has built a shop, and has all the resources and know-how to build a “show” bike, but he really wants to keep this thing the way it is. It holds true to where Michael came from and reminds him where he was at that time in his life: no cash, no direction, and only a little knowledge. Most importantly, it now reminds him of the fact that he has it pretty damn good.