Originally Posted by
Machka
1. I'm not sure what an "affordable aluminum" bicycle costs for you, but a $99 bicycle from Target is really, really, really cheap. A beater bike. Sure, if that's what you've paid for a bicycle, leave it locked outside. If it gets stolen, or rusts a bit you can just run down to Target and pick up another one.
2. On the other hand, those of us who treat our bicycles like new born babies, have very likely paid well over $1000 for our bicycles. If you happened to own something that cost ... say, $3000 ... would you want to leave it locked to a bike rack outside?
3. I happen to know that Europeans who have a collection of bicycles will leave their beater bikes outside, will leave their somewhat more expensive bicycles in the apartment bicycle storage area, and will keep their more expensive bicycles in their apartments, even if it means carrying them up many flights of narrow and steep stairs.
1. You can purchase a GT Aggressor 3.0 mountain bike new from a bike shop for $320. It's aluminum and good quality.
2. There is absolutely no reason one should waste $3,000 on a new bicycle unless he/she is competing professionally. The only reason people spend such ridiculous amounts of money (sometimes more like the $7,000+ range) is to use the bike as a status symbol. A well-maintained sub-$500 bike is worth far more than a $3,000 bike that isn't as well maintained.
3. The only thing you see people riding in European city centers, such as Amsterdam, are beater bikes. Only a select few in Amsterdam use the bicycle for anything other than transportation, and mostly short trips at that.