Commuting - Errands with a Synapse 6 Carbon

I bought myself a synapse 6 carbon for around $1500 and my common sense is telling me that because of it's price I pretty much can't use it except for exercise rides and commuting to work. But I want to ride it everywhere since I don't have a car. Am I pretty much forced to get a junker bike so I don't have to worry about theft all the time when going on errands, or should I breathe easy in Palo Alto, CA and just get a small u-lock and a chain?

I would have no problems leaving my bike of that value, locked with a u-lock and a cable for short periods of time. My reasoning is I can't let the fear of someone stealing my bike impinge on my wanting to ride something of value. Of course there are limitations, I wouldn't leave my bike in a dark alley in the roughest part of town but I would weigh out the risk factors and take it from there.

On the other hand if you find yourself worrying if your bike is going to be where you left it on an errand and you have the money buy another bike.

I think I wouldn't worry too much. Being paralyzed by the fear of something happening helps nothing. I would get a good lockset and be smart when I lock it up. No "couple of minutes" unlocked while you run in to grab some papers, though.

Spend $200 on a beater. I'd never think of leaving my CAAD9-4 locked up anywhere. Plus, that U-lock may chip your paint if you aren't careful. Would you leave a $1500 laptop chained up outside of a grocery store?

Would you only leave a pricy bike when your going grocery shopping and such, or would you also use it when your going to a movie theatre and other locations where it will be obvious you wont be there for a while?

I bought myself a synapse 6 carbon for around $1500 and my common sense is telling me that because of it's price I pretty much can't use it except for exercise rides and commuting to work. But I want to ride it everywhere since I don't have a car. Am I pretty much forced to get a junker bike so I don't have to worry about theft all the time when going on errands, or should I breathe easy in Palo Alto, CA and just get a small u-lock and a chain?

How would you carry the U-lock and chain? If on the bike frame, that alone might ruin it sooner or later.

I never lock my Cervelo, ever. In fact, I rarely let it out of my sight, even for a second, outside my home. I stopped on the way home from a long sunset ride the other night, for some tasty Indian food. I ate outside, moved two chairs before I sat down, and leaned my bike against the wooden rail behind the table. Honestly, with a CF bike, my worries are things like what if someone else parks there, but drops their bike into mine while they fish out their lock? What if someone cuts my cables, and steals my expensive carbon handlebars and shifters?

These are the reasons I have a cheaper commuting bike. Actually, I need to sell mine and replace it.

That's a dilemma, alright. There are board members here who will tell you that if they're going to spend a lot of time on a bike, then it should be their favorite and most expensive one. There are others who say a bike you lock up should be one you won't be financially devastated if it's stolen.

If I were you, I'd save the carbon race bike for commuting(if you have secure bike parking) and training, and buy a cheaper bike for errands, one which is more suited to the task.

That's a dilemma, alright. There are board members here who will tell you that if they're going to spend a lot of time on a bike, then it should be their favorite and most expensive one.


I certainly enjoy riding my beater commuter - its status as a beater is what I enjoy about it so much. I can be harder on the bike and not have to worry about anything.

I rode my commuter on a food drive group ride last year (ride from grocery store to grocery store) and walked out of a grocery store to find it lying on the ground with two huge scratches in the paint (idiot driver in the parking lot had bumped into it somehow out of the hundreds of other bikes outside...). Had it been my road bike, I would have been furious (and the fact that I'd have to leave the bike outside unattended is why I didn't ride my road bike that day!). Since it is a beater, I just fixed the paint scrapes with nail polish and went on with my life.