Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Wheels Stolen In Uptown, Mpls

Hey folks,
Well Mpls/St.Paul freaks,
I had my wheels stolen in front of Intermedia Arts between Thursday and Sunday of last week. People that know me and my bike kinda know what they look like. Alex DV15 rims laced to Suzue basics, fixed/free. They are black with yellow Continental Grand Prix tires. Those should really give 'em away 'cause I have'nt seen anyone in the twin cities area with them. Well at least not yet anyway. If you happen to see them please send me a PM. Thanks..........
Drew

Andrew -

that sucks. i'll keep an eye out; that's not far from my house. i've still got your cell number unless it's changed.

That really does suck. I too will keep an eye out for them.

Out of educational curiosity, what were the circumstances? Do both hubs have bolt-on axles? How was the bike locked? How long did you leave it there?

It was locked to the rack from the top tube, I know, dumb idea, with those Masterlock handcuff thingys.
The wheels were bolt on, so they were definitely there for a few minutes taking 'em off. Very pissed abt. the whole thing, and if I saw someone riding with them on their bike I don't think I'd be very nice to him/her. My bike was locked up last week from Thursday to Sunday afternoon..............
My cell phone isn't working right now, send me a PM if you see anything. Thanks..........
Drew

I had my wheels borrowed last year from uptown. Same bad idea: no quick release = surely nobody would take the time to remove these entry-level wheels. Then I went outside and found a wheel-less bicycle.

For some amazing reason, they left the $40 Cateye headlight, which requires no tools to remove.

Sorry. I feel your pain, and the pain of buying a new wheelset...

woops meant to PM this... lol

Seems like karma was maybe catching up to me. It was not a high-end set, but it definitely kept me riding in very safe conditions for over a year. Bummer

Dont forget- in addition to watching for bikes with you wheels, shop around and see if they are trying to be sold

A good reason to upgrade.

A good reason to lock your wheels.

A good reason to lock your wheels.

+1. I hate to throw salt in your wounds, but leaving it for days without the wheels locked is just asking for something like this to happen. That being said, hopefully you find'em or can get a new set.

I have bolt on wheels and I lock to the top tube, but never where I can't see my bike, never for more than 1/2 an hour in a scketchy area and NEVER overnight. No matter how much you lock your bike up, if you leave it outside in a city overnight, chances are someone is going to **** with it. maybe just bend the **** out of your wheels, maybe the frame. I live in Oakland and it's probably a little more vandal proned than Min/StPaul.

sorry about your wheels though.

Sheldon Brown's read on locking strategy is a good one (on how to use one lock to secure your bike and rear wheel...

and it's a quick read
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/locktechnique1.jpg (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html)

I know they weren't with your frame Sunday during the day, so it had to happen Saturday night. the sick thing is a block up the street there was a 3Rensho locked to the rack outside Sunnyside, and no wheels. Then I saw your bike and thought you were in the hood, was eyeballin' for you. figgured you pulled them for another ride you were trying out.

Sheldon Brown's read on locking strategy is a good one (on how to use one lock to secure your bike and rear wheel...

and it's a quick read
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/locktechnique1.jpg (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html)

A common complaint of this is that while it is perfectly secure, it looks as if it's not and that might lead to would-be thiefs messing up your **** while trying to steal it.
Personally, I prefer a set up that looks and is secure as ****.
A "don't even think about it" set up.

A common complaint of this is that while it is perfectly secure, it looks as if it's not and that might lead to would-be theifs messing up your **** while trying to steal it.
Personally, I prefer a set up that looks and is secure as ****.
A "don't even think about it" set up.

^ +1.

Why would you by and carry around a heavy $40 lock of hardened steel only to lock through a thin peice of aluminum that is easily replaced. Yes they have to cut through your rim to get the bike but thats barely more work then cuting a cheapo chain.

And thus starts the debate of whether or not it's possible to cut through a tensioned wheel.
Many people say it's not possible.
I'm fairly certain they're wrong.

A common complaint of this is that while it is perfectly secure, it looks as if it's not and that might lead to would-be thiefs messing up your **** while trying to steal it.
Personally, I prefer a set up that looks and is secure as ****.
A "don't even think about it" set up.

What's a good "don't even think about it" set up?

I was thinking of getting a u-lock and a plain cable, loop the cable through itself through one end loop and around the front wheel and the other end loop through the u-lock which is locking the frame/rear wheel. If that makes sense. Although I don't want them messing up my rim thinking they can steal it like you said.

When I mean cable I mean this, just a cable and no lock:
http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/2f/cf/b9_1_b.JPG

even if it isn't possible(which I doubt) it's easy enough to detension it either by cutting some spokes or tacoing it.

What's a good "don't even think about it" set up?

I was thinking of getting a u-lock and a plain cable, loop the cable through itself through one end loops around the front wheel and the other end loop through the u-lock which is locking the frame/rear wheel. If that makes sense.

I mini-bulldog my seattube and rear wheel to a pole and run a cable through the front wheel.

I mini-bulldog my seattube and rear wheel to a pole and run a cable through the front wheel.


+ saddle

What's a good "don't even think about it" set up?



nyc chain through front wheel and around the down tube twice (so its snug and bike wont move) then u-lock through the crank and rear wheel.

And thus starts the debate of whether or not it's possible to cut through a tensioned wheel.
Many people say it's not possible.
I'm fairly certain they're wrong.

Nobody says it's not possible. They say it's pretty effing difficult; impossible with a hacksaw unless you detension the spokes. Which amounts to saying that it's not a feasible stealing method. That's more than likely true.

But I don't really care if it's possible to cut up a wheel, wire bead and all. It's enough that it may seem possible for a stupid crook, so I lock my frame as well. The funny bit is that Sheldon could easily have locked his chainstays as well in that pic. And if you can, you'd be a fool not to. Oh ****, what did I just say?


****, I participated in the silly age-old debate #576 - again.

I recall people saying "impossible."
But it doesn't really matter, since I don't believe it to be true either way.

nyc chain through front wheel and around the down tube twice (so its snug and bike wont move) then u-lock through the crank and rear wheel.

Carrying around a chain ('bout 6-8lb) AND a U-lock (on average 4lbs) would be a pain in the ass, not to mention that's like $100+ worth of security. Yeah, your bike will be pretty damn safe, but lugging around 12lb extra pounds seems shi**y.

Ugh, I need to figure something out for when I move back to Columbus. I really don't want to spend $100 on a lock set up.

Ughhhhh, f*ck thieves.

My bulldog was $30.
Cable lock $10-15 (more of a deterrent than actual prevention)

http://http://images.rei.com/media/227012.jpg
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47893895&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&color=&img=/media/227012.jpg&view=large

Carrying around a chain ('bout 6-8lb) AND a U-lock (on average 4lbs) would be a pain in the ass, not to mention that's like $100+ worth of security. Yeah, your bike will be pretty damn safe, but lugging around 12lb extra pounds seems shi**y.

chain around waist feels like 0lbs (at least to me) and the u lock goes in one pocket of my bag so thats barely noticeable. when I lock my bike up I need to be assured it will either still be there or that the a$$clown will still be trying to break it free when I get back. the cost would be the big factor but I doubt you need the security I need in Columbus.

and yet your avatar is a bike locked to a steel bar that can be cut through in under a minute(5s with a sawzall).

There is little reason for your locks to be stronger they what you are locking too. Unless you are really really careful where you put your bike the higher end u-locks and chains are just silly unless you think they are going to be a detterant.

Here in C-Bus all you need is a nice chain to look up your frame and a wheel. Just don't leave your bike outside overnight. The only thefts I've heard of are people (like myself) leaving your bike unlocked for a bum or a white hat to walk off with.

white hats?
http://www.ctkkcmo.org/Scans/renovations/dedication/exit%202%20bishops.JPG

Here in C-Bus all you need is a nice chain to look up your frame and a wheel. Just don't leave your bike outside overnight. The only thefts I've heard of are people (like myself) leaving your bike unlocked for a bum or a white hat to walk off with.

Alright, that's what I was wondering about. I wasn't sure how bad bike stealing was in Columbus because last time lived there was while going to school and I didn't have a bike then (or car--yeah sucked) so I didn't have to mess with anything like that.

I guess I'll look into a New York chain, although a chain would be more bulky than a u-lock/cable combo and would leave my rear wheel unlocked. Hmmmmm. I don't know we'll see.

take off your front wheel and lock it with everything else.

and yet your avatar is a bike locked to a steel bar that can be cut through in under a minute(5s with a sawzall).

you seem to be confused. thats my Langster, its not even locked and its hanging on a barbedwire fence with steel tubing. cutting through the bars would take a little while and it would be quite loud and obvious. they would also need to cut two sections out to have a place to remove the chain through, doubling the time. that was also taken at a place that I frequent that has more cameras and other security measures than you could think of and it isnt around anything else for at least half a block (no one is "creeping" up). if someone could get my bike from that location without being seen and/or risking serious bodily harm in the process then, well, they earned it in my book.

anyway, always check poles and bike racks to see if they have been tampered with, especially street signs. why would anyone not be "really really careful" about where they lock their bike? a $300 or $3000 bike, if you want to keep it then be as careful as possible.

Carrying around a chain ('bout 6-8lb) AND a U-lock (on average 4lbs) would be a pain in the ass, not to mention that's like $100+ worth of security. Yeah, your bike will be pretty damn safe, but lugging around 12lb extra pounds seems shi**y.

Ugh, I need to figure something out for when I move back to Columbus. I really don't want to spend $100 on a lock set up.

Ughhhhh, f*ck thieves.


what ulock are you using? Mini evo weighs less than 2.

you seem to be confused. thats my Langster, its not even locked and its hanging on a barbedwire fence with steel tubing. cutting through the bars would take a little while and it would be quite loud and obvious. they would also need to cut two sections out to have a place to remove the chain through, doubling the time. that was also taken at a place that I frequent that has more cameras and other security measures than you could think of and it isnt around anything else for at least half a block (no one is "creeping" up). if someone could get my bike from that location without being seen and/or risking serious bodily harm in the process then, well, they earned it in my book.

anyway, always check poles and bike racks to see if they have been tampered with, especially street signs. why would anyone not be "really really careful" about where they lock their bike? a $300 or $3000 bike, if you want to keep it then be as careful as possible.

It looked like chainlink and that tubing can be cut in around five seconds with a sawzall an not much longer by hand. I know I've built them before.

But reallly thats beside the point. My point was that most of the things you lock to are going to be weaker then even a mid range u-lock and therefore the extra metal and weight of highend new york locks etc is a waste.

Likewise I was not refereing to tampering. If you are locking your bike to any fence, sign post or similiar amount of untemptered steel whether its been tampered with or not the signpost or whatever is going to be easier to cut through then even a mid-range ulock. By really really careful about what you lock too I meant only locking to streetlamps and stuff like that that are unfeasible to cut through.

Never leave your bike anywhere over night...there's always room in the house even if its not your house. Never, never, never lock your bike in the same place for consecutive nights.

Hold on, guys. I didn't intentionally leave it with the wheels unlocked. It was locked up in front of my gf's job. I only thought I was gonna be there for an hour or so, but when I went out to ride, I realized that I had lost my key. Did not find it till a couple days later. But still, I know I was not thinking and should have took off the wheels. But you know, they did not take my Brooks pro, or my Eggbeaters which both r in really good shape. Guess I would be even more pissed............
Thanks 4 all the responses. I leave for 4 days and, wow, two pages. Maybe I should pay more attention to things left unattended to..............

You call that Uptown?


Hey folks,
Well Mpls/St.Paul freaks,
I had my wheels stolen in front of Intermedia Arts between Thursday and Sunday of last week. .
Drew

You call that Uptown?

um, what do you call it? lyn-lake?

actually, *pushes glasses up bridge of nose* i believe it's called Lowry Hill East.

just kidding. but uptown is kind of weird, in that it's not so much a neighborhood as an amalgam of smaller neighborhoods. rather amorphous.

anyway, i call that uptown.

actually, *pushes glasses up bridge of nose* i believe it's called Lowry Hill East.

just kidding. but uptown is kind of weird, in that it's not so much a neighborhood as an amalgam of smaller neighborhoods. rather amorphous.

anyway, i call that uptown.

technically, you are correct. lowry hill east is also known as "the wedge".

we also could just say "**** it" and call it south minneapolis, you know.

technically, you are correct. lowry hill east is also known as "the wedge".

we also could just say "**** it" and call it south minneapolis, you know.

but then we'd scare off the suburban types, who are also scared off by the thought of "north minneapolis".

speaking of, I didnt understand until recently how "South East Minneapolis" is actually North East of downtown. Equally how North East minneapolis is actually north of downtown. (tricky St. Anthony)

um, what do you call it? lyn-lake?

Who cares? I just call it the area where my wheels got swiped.