jrubzer

My 2007 Kona Dr. Dew was stolen directly in front of my office in midtown manhattan yesterday while I was at my desk I had a 4.5' Abus chain and Mul-T-Lock padlock, pin-heads locks in the wheels and seat post but they got the whole thing. I filled out a police report but know its pointless. I guess my luck finally ran out. Now I am looking for a new commuter ASAP. I commute daily and I loved the Dr. Dew and was spoiled by the disc breaks but want to go to a steel/chromo frame. Any suggestions in the sub 1k range? Obviously nothing too flashy. Thanks.

wunderkind

So sorry to read that! And it's an Abus too? Yikes! When you mention in front of the office... as in lock to a bike rack on the sidewalk location? I don't recommend getting another nice bike for commuting because in general the thief would strike again presuming the owner would get a replacement worthy of the predecessor. This sucks...

K6-III

Something tells me a folding bike might be for you, at least for commuting to work. If an Abus and Mul-T-Lock padlock won't stop them, its like asking to lose another bike.

Which folding bike depends on your commute distance and how much room you have in the office. Something tells me its going to be either a Bike Friday Tikit or Brompton.

TRaffic Jammer

bastids, that sucks!!!

jrubzer

Thanks, I still can't figure out how they got through the chain. The Mul-T-Lock must have been clipped with bolt cutters? I have about a 15 mile round trip that I do in all weather so the discs were helpful in the muck of the city during fall/winter. The problem is the bike racks were removed for sidewalk maintenance and never replaced so it was on a lightpost. Next time I will do chains, padlock and backup U-lock.

wolfchild

Ouch ! , very sorry to hear that. Kona Dew's are really nice bikes, I hope all those bike thieves rot in hell.

Grim

You sure the city didn't remove it? Bill the city for the loss of the bike since they removed the rack that you could have secured it to better.

Praxis

Lightpost? How tall? Could it just be lifted off given a tall vehicle to stand on?

Probably faster just to cut the lock.

echotraveler

it sucks! I feel ya' somebody broke entry my house for my bikes arg!


+1 for a nice folder bike...

Or maybe a bad looking, good working, used bike....

Artkansas 

Ouch.

Sounds like it's time to invest in a nice 20 year-old MTB that has spent most of it's life languishing in a garage. Solid service at minimal cost.

NYC_zx10

Wow.

I just came in from working on my "commuter" bike i'm putting together to ride into Midtown myself.

I also picked up the BikeRegistry security chain with Abus lock on it...now you've got me thinking!

Its not flashy whatsoever. Its an old vintage Miyata road frame, crappy looking with decent components that are used looking (a plus).

Where in Midtown if you don't mind me asking ?

Cyclist0383

That sucks. Do you know exactly which Abus chain and Mul-T-Lock it was? Both companies make a large range of locks and chains. Good luck with your new ride.

turtlewoman

"it sucks! I feel ya' somebody broke entry my house for my bikes arg!"


What in the he-- are you trying to say? I have worked and worked and can't figure it out.

Cyclist0383

Oh, come on! Someone broke into his house and stole his bikes.

echotraveler

exactly they stole my 2 bikes my first guitar, my best guitar, and my 2 mac laptops, they f'd me

it was a test for my soul, how attached are you to material things? im happy to be healthy and alive, money comes and go's but boy! earning a honest living is the hard part lol....let them rejoyce in stolen gear, i will rebuild my casttle....i moved to a much better place now!

froze

I like what one poster mentioned...your sure the city didn't take it? Check the impound.

Folding bike could be an answer, but a cheaper answer would be to buy a cheap Wallyworld or thrift store bike and use that one to commute on and lock up outside, no one will touch it; then buy a nice bike for your weekend rides.

ibcrewin

That sucks.. How big is the company? Our company, has bike racks in the basement. You need to badge in and out to get your bike

wunderkind

^ now that is awesome!

AndrewP

A Dahon folder is not too noodly for a 7.5 mile ride.

freako

Noodly? that's your first concern? What about going to your local LBS and get some tires and tubes for it...good luck with that, of course you can always order that odd ball stuff over the internet and wait for it to come.

K6-III

20" tires and tubes are available everywhere (BMX size). Even 16" (305) tubes should be stocked nearly everywhere thanks to childrens bicycles. Brompton (355) tubes might be harder to track down, but not in NYC, with the highest concentration of Bromptons in the country.

zeppinger

I would suggest buying two u locks and leaving them attached to the light post that you tether to everyday. Even with a really nice bike I think most bike thieves would look for something easier. If you park in the same place everyday, why not?

djetelina

What model Mul-T-Lock was that? The MONOBLOC style Mul-T-Lock (a very high end and difficult lock to chop). Or was is one of the Mul-T-Lock standard shackle style padlocks, w/ shackle fully exposed, more suited to luggage guard duty....

stevage

Do I understand correctly that you had one chain on there and they cut it? The best advice we can give you is to use a chain and a D-lock next time (or even more). And possibly find somewhere safer to park...any chance of arguing to bring your bike inside the office?
(I have this luxury at work and it's wonderful...)

cyclefreaksix

If I had to leave my bike locked up outside in the city then I would use a large cable lock and to mini D locks.

I'm sorry for your loss. There is nothing lower on this earth than a friggin' thief.