[sunnyboy]

How paranoid are you when it comes to leaving your bikes locked up in town/outside your work etc?

I generally use two bike locks if I plan to leave the bike for a long while. I have a thick, heavy duty one in my backpack at all times and a thin, light one wrapped around my seat post.
This was mainly due to having quick release wheels on my bike and this way I could put a lock around the front wheel, the frame and whatever I was locking up to and then do the same with the back wheel.
If I am only leaving the bike for a short time, such as running into a shop to quickly pick up something I will generally just use the small one I keep around the seat post.

I've never understood how so many people can feel safe just leaving there bike unlocked while they pop into a shop. All it takes is one second and your bike is long gone.

[qmsdc15]

I use a mini U-lock which is less vulnerable to some prying methods of breaking than a standard size U-lock. I have replaced my quick release wheel skewers and seatpost clamps with non-QR units. I have a heavy cable and padlock securing my trailer to my bicycle. Sometimes I just lock wheel to frame, "lean and lock", such that it would be possible to pick up and walk away with my rig, but with a seven foot long trailer attached, not easy. I rarely leave my bike locked for long and only lean and lock for brief periods of time. I never lean and lock if I don't have my trailer in tow. The trailer is locked to the frame in a manner that allows me to ride with the lock fastened, so it stays locked to the frame until I get home.

[rola643]

Originally Posted by sunnyboy

I've never understood how so many people can feel safe just leaving there bike unlocked while they pop into a shop. All it takes is one second and your bike is long gone.

What kinda bike are you riding sunny? I don't even own a lock. Unless I'm going into the rare 7-11,for more water, when I'm out riding I don't generally stop. Generally my bike is not out of eyesight. Unless it's an organized ride I very rarely ride outside of my area and have very little worry of theft where I live.

[qmsdc15]

rola, you should have a bike that you can use to run errands, and a lock. If everyone used a bike instead of a car for one errand a week, uh well I forget the figure, but it amounted to a lot of gas. I encourage you to integrate the bike into your life beyond it's recreational/fitness role.

[rola643]

I agree qm! Fortunately ( depending on how you look at it ) I home fleet for work and a quick stop on the way home usually meets my needs. I fill my personal truck once maybe twice a month! The flip side to that is that my work truck avg. is 6 mpg

[BeginnerCycling]

I live out in the suburbs, and don't worry too much about theft here. So, I use a I-know-I-shouldn't-use-it cable lock that wraps around my seatpost. So far, so good, but I often think I should at least get a cheap U-lock also.

[Industry_Hack]

No lock. If I can't bring my bike into the store, they don't get my business.

[qmsdc15]

Bring your vehicle into a store seems wacky to me. Are you strutting your stuff in lycra shorts and waddling around on road cleats while parading your fixie up and down the grocery store aisles? Haha.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by qmsdc15

Bring your vehicle into a store seems wacky to me. Are you strutting your stuff in lycra shorts and waddling around on road cleats while parading your fixie up and down the grocery store aisles? Haha.

No lycra, no cleats.

[qmsdc15]

Originally Posted by rola643

I agree qm! Fortunately ( depending on how you look at it ) I home fleet for work and a quick stop on the way home usually meets my needs. I fill my personal truck once maybe twice a month! The flip side to that is that my work truck avg. is 6 mpg

I see. I home fleet my work vehicle too and pick up groceries on the way home.