Commuting - Bikes being stolen

I used to ride to work but my bikes were being stolen, everytime thieves would cut my lock. Anyone has any advice in this matter?!

Regards,
www.braddproducts.com
malakhas68@hotmail.com

Without any more detail about where and how you lock your bike, I can only offer the most generic advice.

a) find a more secure place to lock it. Forget the myth about parking it in a public place. No-one but you cares if your bike gets stolen, and no-one will do anything to prevent it but you. Find the most out of the way place you can.

b) Don't ride a bike that is desireable to thieves. Get an old clunker - it's better than no bike at all. Even if it is a nice bike, make it look crappy with duct tape over the frame or a healthy layer of filth. Remove or cover all decals if it's a known brand.

c) Always park it next to a nicer bike.

d) If it's at all possible, take it inside with you.

e) Buy the best lock you can afford. I've heard good things about the Kryptonite New York lock, but remember, no lock is proof against a determined thief, but with the other suggestions, a good lock can be sufficient incentive for a would-be thief to look elsewhere.

HTH.

ONe of the best ideas I've seen so far, is go buy a cheap x-mart bike. Then go get Kryptonite Newyork chain and U-lock. Basicaly you will have invested about $100 in bike and $160 in locks so not much chance of being stolen.

Buy a good, old bike.They are much better than crappy new bikes. Touring bikes make excellent utility machines and are a low priority for thieves.
Use 2 locks, a hardened steel chain, and a cable.
Lock to something solid.
The chain is too heavy to carry, so just leave it at your work lockup point.

When you buy a good old bike, buy some auto-touch up primer and dab it around the frame. Makes it look crappy. I've done this to my UO10, which I bought for thirty-five bucks at a thrift store and is a wonderful commuter/beater. The two locks are a good idea-- apparently a u-lock and a cable lock require different heavy tools to attack, so a thief has to carry 'em both. And if possible, take the bike inside to work with you.

In NYC, I often notice people locking their bikes without using any common sense whatever... They do things like lock only the front wheel, or lock only the frame using a cheap length of hardware-store chain, or any number of other odd things... The two most expensive bits of your bike are the frame and the rear wheel, so you want to lock both of those to something solid, which is most easily done with a U-lock through the rear triangle and the rear wheel. I'm told, though I have not tried it (and I don't remember where I read it!) that because of the pressure exerted by the spokes and by the curvature of the rim, it's nearly impossible to cut through the rim of a bicycle wheel - the sawblade will bind and break because the rim will pinch. In theory, then, you can lock just the rear wheel to a solid object, so long as your lock goes through the rear triangle, and wind up securing both the frame and the wheel. The front wheel has much less value, and is really only a target for the really desperate and/or some schmuck with low morals who's had his own front wheel stolen, so it's fairly safe so long as you've got some kind of chain or cable looped through it - no need to spend a lot on that one!

And, of course, the advice about cheapies / beaters is on target! If you lock your thousand-dollar-plus bike outside, it'll get taken no matter what lock you put on it, especially if you lock in the same area on a regular basis... The professional thieves have the tools to cut through anything, and when they show up with a truck full of powertools, that's the end of that!

>>>One of the best ideas I've seen so far, is go buy a cheap x-mart bike<<<<

This is exactly what I'm doing at the moment. My Toys R US bike has lived on the streets the past 6 months 24/7. If you're going to commute on an Xmart bike, here's my susgestion.

1. DO NOT get any bike under $79.00 or one that has plastic brake handles

2. If the commute is longer than 4 miles, you really need to look at a used road bike. Search on Ebay for Road bike and under $150.00. You'll find many options.

3. I purchased a Pacific dual suspension bike and regret it. If I had to do the same all over again, I would have purchased the Schwinn costing about $150.00. According to Bicycling, it's basically the same as you would find at your local LBS. You should of course adjust the bike top to bottom once you bring it home. Don't forget to tear out the Schwinn stickers and put black tape all over it while scratching up the seat.

>>>The professional thieves have the tools to cut through anything, and when they show up with a truck full of powertools, that's the end of that!<<<<

I heard the other day the pros only need one tool. That giant steal clipper they steal off fire trucks is enough to cut through most if not ALL locks. Incredible.