Ackro (Bikeverse)

Ackro is a green 1996 Huffy Snake Rock 15-speed bicycle, who appears in both When Bikes Argue and its sequel.

In reality
The Huffy Snake Rock in use to portray Ackro was purchased in the summer of 1996 for the Dozerfleet founder's use as his personal bike. Said bike got a lot of use from 1996 - 1998, but became used less often after the family moved from 1500 Southlawn Dr. in Wyoming, MI to 7779 E. Mt. Hope Hwy. in Grand Ledge, MI. All the same, it remained in the pole barn for anyone to use. It was later intended to be the de-facto get-around-campus vehicle for the Dozerfleet founder after he attended Ferris State in the fall of 2006. Alas, a rear axle bolt broke on the bike on its way to McNerney Hall on Thursday, September 21st of 2006 - ten years and a handful of months after it was first purchased from a Meijer store near the Wyoming city area.

The bike was eventually sent to a dumpster, and was later replaced with a blue bike purchased at the Wal-Mart of Big Rapids. With "Ackro" out of the picture, however, it didn't seem right to continue the When Bikes Argue series, leading to the series being canceled after only two parts to it had been made.

In-universe
Ackro is one of three bikes to first appear after being latched to a bike rack hooked to a Ford Windstar van on July 3rd of 2005. After Hilo asks the others when they believe they'll be unlatched, Colly complains about how long it took for the bikes' owners to figure out how to get her latched on in the first place, due to the rack's frame not being entirely compatible with her frame. Ackro tries to calm her down, by urging that the rack was built cheaply, and not with female bikes in mind. Hilo and Colly misinterpret Ackro's explanations, however, and veer onto side tangents. This gets especially out of hand when Hilo strays the topic into one of an insane plan to nuke Mecca. Ackro tries in vain to argue that Hilo's strategy makes no sense. But Colly is offended that Hilo would even suggest such a thing. Unable to do anything about their differences, the bikes resign themselves to resting on the rack, waiting to be taken off and ridden.

Months later, Ackro tries to explain to Colly that bikes don't have very many rights under US law. That they're not entitled to have brake shoes. Colly is so offended, she starts giving Ackro the silent treatment. He turns to Barry for advice, but Barry turns out to be a massive pervert with no useful information to offer. Frustrated, Ackro heads into the pole barn - only to discover that Hilo is holding a meeting with Clove, Baron, and Bludger on a new strategy for nuking Mecca. This one proves to be even worse than Hilo's original suggestion from months earlier. Ackro demonstrates very quickly how a simple thing could ruin Hilo's strategy entirely. But before Hilo can be talked out of his plan, Bludger admits to inspiring Hilo's every belief. Ackro slinks away, disappointed that Bludger has effectively started a cult.

Personality
While it is unclear how he and the other vehicles first gained hints of sentience, Ackro is concerned with fairness and rationality in all topics. He doesn't like conflict, but if one comes along, he tries to find the quickest way to fairly diffuse the situation. This goal of his is often frustrated, as his comrades in the experiment have often demonstrated themselves to be far less rational.

Trivia

 * Ackro's personality is inspired by those of Private Leonard L. Church and Private Lavernius Tucker from Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles.