Commuting - attn ALL MIDTOWN MANHATTON RIDERS!

Just a question to help my curiosity!!! my wife and i are currently in midtown manhatton for a "weekend on the town." I noticed on the majority of bikes locked to street signs that they are littleraly covered, head to toe with either electrical tape or duct tape. Why is this? my two guesses are 1.) to hide the brand and make of the bike 2.) to stop the frame from getting screwed up from the HUGE chains you are forced to carry. Please help me with this, as the curiosity is killing me!!

yeah, that's pretty much it, theft protection as well as making the bike a bit more protected from the elements and stuff.

Jay

The tape covers the brand name of the bike by making it ugly. I don't have any tape on my bike because it's a Pacific toy store junker that's rusted from head to toe!

I park my bike outside for long stretches in lower midtown and do not want it to tempt even the most desperate thief. It is a pretty old bike already, but duct tape wrapped haphazardly around an otherwise fine seat and back rack add at least 10 years in appearance. The splashes of nail polish on the frame cover small rust spots but also make it more crap-tacular. Now if I could figure out how to make my brand new brake levers and quick-release wheel look junky, I'd be happy. ;)

(It's spelled "Manhattan")

I think they want to keep them looking shabby so no one will want to steal them. You DO NOT want to lock up a nice bike on the street here. It won't be there when you get back.