I've never locked my bike either. Generally I'm within eyesight distance of the bike/backpack to start with. Generally I avoid areas like big cities where theft is more of a problem. I fess if I stop by someplace like Walmart to buy bananas or something anything could happen. With the homemade fenders on the bike and the rest of the appearance does kinda detract possible thieves. Overnight the bike is right by me, generally within a couple of feet of the tent. I always stealth camp and camp in spots where people wouldn't typically be hanging out overnight...even though I'm generally within 1 mile of 'town...err, McDonalds, Walmart...the shopping district. Sometimes I've camped out behind a Walmart, or beside a Lowes. I just place myself so I'm not easily spotted and I never set up camp before dark. On the 1700 mile trip I got back from a couple of days ago I don't think I set up camp once before 10:30PM. I'm always outta camp pretty much by 6AM...sunrise.