Originally Posted by
bragi
I'm afraid I don't agree with you at all. Yes, bikes can be stolen by determined thieves in less than a minute. But that's also true for cars. I don't see the point of hunkering down in your house with a possession that is so precious that you can't use it. I use my bike for virtually all of my local trips: commuting, fun rides, shopping, meeting friends at pubs, you name it. It's incredibly useful to me, and I have no intention of hiding it in my house. I take reasonable precautions, and I doubt it will be stolen, but if it is, it's insured, and at least I'm getting very good use out of it. It's a tool, fer Chrissakes, not a family heirloom.
best policy revised: if you plan on leaving your bike locked outside, bring all of your stealable accessories inside with you, and make your frame look as ugly as possible. If you're someone who also likes to bike for sport, you should really invest in 2 bikes. Buy a nice one you use for rides where you're not stopping anywhere / can bring your bike indoors with you, and a commuting bike you can buy from wally world or craigslist and uglify.