[mcvouty]

When I was a kid, some other kid down the street called the cops on me for stealing his bike.

Fortunately, my mother still had the owner's manual.

I felt bad for the other kid, though. I can only imagine the disappointment of having his bike stolen, followed by the shock of thinking he found it, followed by the utter humiliation of having the cops point out that cheap bikes from K-Mart all look the same.

But I think that put the fear of god into me from the get-go about locking up. And if I'm out on my carbon and have to use the little boys room, I'll take it in with me. I don't care. It's not going out of my sight for a second.

[bjjoondo]

We won't stop anywhere that we "can't" see our bikes, even then we cable lock them! The only place we don't use a lock is in our LBS. Now if we are food shopping, ect., one of us stays and guards the bikes and trailer, we take turns, LOL we bring a folding chair in the trailer for the "guard" to sit in. Here's our trailer, it's a old kid hauler and I have the "tub" bolted in 4 places but I use, "WING nuts" instead of reg. so I can get the tub off ASAP if I need to use the trailer as a "flatbed" for larger objects.

[ferg]

Sometimes it doesn't matter. A few years back, right after hurricane Ivan, we had both my Moab and Trek krypto-cabled thru both front and rear wheels around frame, thru balcony railings. Thieves in the night simply unbolted the entire 14 foot section of balcony and gone with the entire package, railing and all.

In our new place, we sold off the furniture in the family room to make room for 4 bikes. Always lock my Trek MTB, never lock Cannondale TT as it doesn't leave my sight, if I even get off during a ride.

If they want it bad enough, they will find a way to get it...at least in the Caribbean....

Ferg

[kg4fxg]

One of the main reasons I own a Brompton! Take it with you. I know, it is not the same as a Road Bike but depending on what or where I go I use it and do not have to lock it.

For serious rides I go and ride and never let my bike out of my sight even though it locks on the rear carrier. Usually fairly safe around LBS with other riders around. Better to have bike inside car for a trip inside for coffee.

Depends what state or area you are in as if there are any safe places? Or I should say if you live in a state with higher crimes and thefts. I would rather not tempt fate anyway. And play it safe.

The Brompton is also great for rides with my daughter. She is seven and could not keep up with the road bike.

[newleaf150]

I spend a lot of time walking around my work campus, which includes several buildings. Most have bike racks outside, and I've started noticing something that just amazes me: a number of the bikes I see frequently are left UNLOCKED . All day long, again and again.

Among those which are locked, the most common method is a cheap cable lock on the frame - not even securing the QR wheels!

I just passed a nice-looking Kona roadie that I've seen 5-6x before. I have yet to ever see it locked. Crazier-still, the owner leaves his or her gear right on the bike! Planet Bike blinkey taillight, high-end cycling computer, nice-looking headlight with remote battery, even their under-seat bag.

I would post pics, but being caught taking a pic anywhere on campus results in immediate termination. That rule actually includes the annual employee-only car show. It's the only car show I've been to where you never see a single camera trained on a car. Surreal.

The whole campus is naturally under video surveillance, but I still find it astonishing to see nice bikes, day after day, sitting unlocked in various bike racks, or locked frame-only with a cable that looks like it'd succumb to my multi-tool or a strong pair of scissors. The vast majority also retain their lights/computers/etc.

We have cars broken into and periodically stolen from campus. It's not located in the ghetto, but also far from a 'good' part of town.

Anyone else seen this kind of thing at work or on the street? Seems like an open invitation to get ripped off.

[John_V]

Originally Posted by newleaf150

I spend a lot of time walking around my work campus, which includes several buildings. Most have bike racks outside, and I've started noticing something that just amazes me: a number of the bikes I see frequently are left UNLOCKED . All day long, again and again.

Among those which are locked, the most common method is a cheap cable lock on the frame - not even securing the QR wheels!

I just passed a nice-looking Kona roadie that I've seen 5-6x before. I have yet to ever see it locked. Crazier-still, the owner leaves his or her gear right on the bike! Planet Bike blinkey taillight, high-end cycling computer, nice-looking headlight with remote battery, even their under-seat bag.

I would post pics, but being caught taking a pic anywhere on campus results in immediate termination. That rule actually includes the annual employee-only car show. It's the only car show I've been to where you never see a single camera trained on a car. Surreal.

The whole campus is naturally under video surveillance, but I still find it astonishing to see nice bikes, day after day, sitting unlocked in various bike racks, or locked frame-only with a cable that looks like it'd succumb to my multi-tool or a strong pair of scissors. The vast majority also retain their lights/computers/etc.

We have cars broken into and periodically stolen from campus. It's not located in the ghetto, but also far from a 'good' part of town.

Anyone else seen this kind of thing at work or on the street? Seems like an open invitation to get ripped off.

I drive through the University of South Florida's campus to get to the credit union. The road I go on has dorms on each side and I always see bike in the bike racks left unlocked. I've even come out of the credit union and seen fairly expensive rode bikes unlocked on their bike rack. I guess the thinking among young people is "it won't happen to me."

[lmiles64]

Originally Posted by John_V

I drive through the University of South Florida's campus to get to the credit union. The road I go on has dorms on each side and I always see bike in the bike racks left unlocked. I've even come out of the credit union and seen fairly expensive rode bikes unlocked on their bike rack. I guess the thinking among young people is "it won't happen to me."

To cavet on this with a lighter note.... A few years ago I was a season ticket holder for UW Husky football with a friend of mine who is a long time season ticket holder. Our trek to the stadium took us through the campus and for two seasons we saw the same bike locked to the same bike rack.... finally by the third season it was gone.

[davereo]

The best method is to use two different locking devices. That way anyone wanting to steal your bike needs to be prepared to defeat both locks. One look at the dual locked bike on the rack and the one on the side of it will get pinched. My 2 cents on locking bikes.

[Buffalo-jon]

Originally Posted by lmiles64

To cavet on this with a lighter note.... A few years ago I was a season ticket holder for UW Husky football with a friend of mine who is a long time season ticket holder. Our trek to the stadium took us through the campus and for two seasons we saw the same bike locked to the same bike rack.... finally by the third season it was gone.

maybe it graduated!

[i12ride]

Unless there are more than one of us and someone stays outside with the bikes, I'm not going in any stores. Mine aren't left unattended. ever. period. I don't have any throw down POS machine I wouldn't miss for that purpose. Stuff is spread far and wide where I am to do many errands on bikes. I do have several nice fat cable locks that would be used if I decided to use a bike for errands after adding basket, panniers, seat post rack, etc etc etc. I use them to lock my bikes to the d-rings in the bed of the truck when traveling/camping but still don't like to even leave the locked truck out of sight. Damn, now I know what needs to be done with the Gary Fisher 700c cross frame hanging in the garage but bike 15 not coming too soon..........