Al Downie

Today a guy tried to steal my bike while it was parked against the wall of the sandwich shop I stop at every morning. While I was inside and waiting in the queue, he snatched the bike, jumped on and tried to race off with it, but I saw this happening and ran out of the shop to find him on the ground, scrambling to his feet before running off! Reason? Every time I get off the bike knowing that I'll be stepping away from it for even a minute, I turn the Rohloff shifter to 1st gear. It's been a habit for the last two years, but today's the first time I saw a demonstration of the benefit! If you use a Rohloff, I'd recommend it as a good habit.

zoodude

That is a really good idea! Glad it worked. I shall be doing that for now on!

squirtdad

For us non rohloff types what does putting it if 1st do...make it really hard to pedal or ???

Chris_in_Miami

Ejection gear!

Al Downie

Ah - no - sorry - 1st gear is ridiculously easy for ultra steep hills, so his legs spun much faster than he was expecting and he fell off the bike. 14th gear might have worked too! On a Rohloff you can change to any gear while stationary, without having to lift the back end of the bike and pedal like you do with a derailleur. I found that pretty useful on some tours too, being able to change gears after <ahem> unexpectedly losing momentum, when the bike is fully laden and on a steep hill...

squirtdad

thanks..... it would seem the could build a "lock' function into the hub also.......

mikeybikes

Universal and works with any set of wheels

https://www.velo-orange.com/ringlock.html

HardyWeinberg

My wife's breezer came with one of those. The breezer dealer doesn't like them 'cause they're trivial, but it seems like they'd serve the main goal of keeping honest people honest, at least. I like the spin-defense too (which the breezer can also do)

MNBiker

If you must leave your bike for a few minutes without locking it, there are a few other methods for slowing down any would-be thief: As already mentioned, put it in the lowest or highest gear; lay the bike on the ground so they can't so quickly take off; disconnect or loosen the brake cables at the calipers if it is easy -- although I would hate for a thief to get killed in traffic for just the sake of a bike; or take the chain off the chainring.

Sixty Fiver

Anyone who tries to steal my bike deserves what they get... I usually use my fixed gear bikes for general errands and they come with a built in ejection system for the uninitiated.

mconlonx

You left a Rolhoff equipped bike leaning against a wall outside a shop with nothing but a low gear to keep it safe???

I'm very trusting of humanity, but not that trusting. If this was me, I'd chalk this up to the universe paying me back for all the rotten stuff that's gone down in my life with this one second chance. That, and I'd buy a honkin' big lock.

Sixty Fiver

I never leave my bikes unlocked... the time it takes someone to grab your bike and ride off is only a few seconds and I can't run like I used to.

iambent

It only takes a bike thief with a pickup truck a few seconds to throw it in the bed and take off. A ring lock or low or high gear on the Rohloff is useless with that kind of thief. Even if you leave your bike for a minute lock it with a big cable or U-lock.

noglider 

I leave my bike unlocked occasionally. I "sabotage" it by putting it in the big chainring and the big sprocket, then push the shift levers forward, so the bike has to shift both derailleurs while taking off. I also undo both quick release skewers. If the front wheel falls off, that will stop the thief quickly. The rear wheel will move forward in the dropouts and rub hard on the chainstays, making the bike hard to pedal. I also undo the brake cables so stopping is a challenge.

noglider 

There are bike thieves in Canada? Say it isn't so!

CliftonGK1

I unclip both my brake straddles.

Sure, a thief may ride off with it; but we'll I.D. them after scraping what's left from the grill of a truck at the first intersection.

GriddleCakes

^^^
That's some harsh justice. Harsh, and kind of hilarious.

I lock my bike up with a Krytonite FU lock and chain, every time. It looks really silly when it takes longer for me to lock and unlock the bike than to walk into a store and realized that I've forgotten my wallet. Again.

HardyWeinberg

OK that sounds like it takes longer than locking up.

ghettocruiser

I occasionally gamble that no one can figure out the hydraulic-STI-flippies (under pogies) and low-normal derailleur before I come out of the coffee shop.

I guess they could still throw it in the back of a truck.

pennstater

I strap my helmet through the wheel and don't leave it out of my sight.

atbman

Is carrying a lock against your religion?

ghettocruiser

Yes?

(I know the question wasn't directed at me).

For emergency longer-term parking, I'm also willing to bet no thieves of opportunity can figure out the powerlink in a SRAM chain if I "chain it" to a post.

chandltp

That's what I was thinking.

RaleighComp

The other day I walked out of a store and realized I had left my lock keys right in my lock. Imagine if somebody just grabbed my keys as a cruel trick?

To add hypothetical insult to injury, imagine that he/she stood there watching until I finally walked home to get my other keys and *then* he simply unlocked my bike and rode away.

mikeybikes

That's genius!

I was out once before without my lock... I wish I would have thought of that. Would've been perfect. I was going to be in the store for five minutes. Instead, I turned around and went home.