Folding Bikes - Folder or Holder?

deleted

I do sometimes worry about this but i just do everything i can to make my folder unnattractive to thieves. Best lock money can buy and i hit my ride with the ugly stick. Of course nothing is fullproof..

But i can't help but notice that almost all of the machines listed are some of the most high end/recognizable/special folders out there that any thief with any inkling of bike value would immediatly recognize as 'bankable'. I think another good strategy to hold on to your Bling, Super Customized performance folder is to simply have one that is cheaper ang uglier for use that is high risk in terms of theft.

A pity one has to consider these things.

I almost got bike jacked last weekend. I was riding my Bike Friday when, what I thought were a couple of kids on BMX bikes asked to look at my bike. When I stopped I noticed they weren't kids but young adults in the early 20's. These guys were pretty knowledgeable about BMX bikes and were asking questions. One of the guys had his hand in his pocket and appeared nervous. He slowly started to move his hand out of his pocket. I saw the handle of a knife so I quickly pedalled away...

In 10 years of riding 60,000+ miles, that is the first time I felt I was in danger.

That sucks, glad it didn't turn even uglier. Was this at night? in the city of elsewhere?

It was at 2:00 in the afternoon in a suburb of Fort Worth, TX. The neighborhood is so-so..I usually ride through early in the morning when the bad guys are sleeping..

To date, I've seen one folder locked up - chained to a rack in front of a popular pub in the heart of the city core. (it was a Dahon Impulse D6)

I bought a folder in part because I don't want to have to replace my bike. I don't own any form of lock. Instead, the bike goes in it's carrying case and I take it inside with me everywhere - home, shopping etc.

Does everyone do this with their folder or do you lock yours outside?
Dave: sorry to hear about that event. Could have gone down worse but it's still chilling. :(

I once had my Dahon Gotham City almost stolen in Berlin. The thieves couldn't break through my massive lock so they tried to cut down the light pole. Imagine that, walking out to see the hack marks on your lock and then obvious saw marks on a BIG cast iron lightpole. I was in an area where I couldn't bring my bike in (the Reichstag) I was forced to lock it. Security was really anal at that building and udnerstandably so. So I ALWAYS have at least 1 good lock with me. Even though it must weigh 3 pounds (no joke and maybe more I am afraid to weigh it) I always take it with me.

On the useful but sad side it has helped with the theif who demands something from me. In other words it does make a great weapon to defend yourself. I was in a less than great area of Moscow and someone wanted to bike-jack me. Knife vs. big doberman lock, and the lock easily won. I have no desire to repeat that encounter anytime soon but is something to keep in the back of your mind unless you are a total pacifist.

U Lock JUSTICE!!! (That's a great song about what you describe Wav). I too carry a big a$$ lock that is at least a Kilo. I just can't imagine folding up my folder everytime i go indoors or run an errand. I find even the lock to be a fairly lenghty process to do it proper and some days i pop in and out so much i would probably end up spending more time on the folding rather than biking! Might as well use my skateboard then. Nobody has ever messed with my lock and i don't think they are too likely to. But Vandalism is always a concern, no matter what the lock.