The Surly Pugsley is a unique bicycle with huge tires allowing the rider access to terrain few bikes can manage. One Pugsley was pushed beyond traditional demands last Friday when it was stolen from Skunk River Cycles of Ames, and taken on a ride down Interstate 35.

Ames police apprehended Nicholas Brady, 19, at 5:30 p.m. Friday as he was riding the bike southbound on I-35. Police said Brady admitted the bike was stolen and revealed his destination as Osceola.

Ross Hackerson, longtime employee of Skunk River Cycles, said Brady came into the shop Friday and asked a few questions before taking the black Pugsley on what was meant to be a test ride.

“Usually they’ll go out and ride it around the block or down by the train tracks,” Hackerson said. “I went back inside for a little bit and noticed that he wasn’t back yet. Sometimes people take bikes for longer test rides, but when we were getting ready to close, that’s when we called.”

Stephen Rashid has been an employee of the shop for one year and left work a little early on Friday to head to Davenport for the weekend. While driving, he passed two police cars on the side of the road and spotted the stolen Pugsley on the scene.

Rashid called back to the shop and let them know what he had witnessed.

“They determined within a very short amount of time that yeah, that was the guy, that was our bike, and he had been apprehended already,” Rashid said.

Brady was charged with second-degree theft, a class B felony. The bike is valued at $1,799, and store employees said the bike sustained no significant damage in the incident.

The Pugsley was the second bike stolen from Skunk River Cycles within the past two weeks. One is still missing after it was taken from the storefront Aug. 30.

“We’ve had a couple taken from out back before, and we’ve always gotten them back,” Rashid said.

While the bikes remain on display out front, a cable now winds through the back wheels, discouraging any potential thieves.