On Bike Security
 

Today, was supposed to be a day of celebration, both my sister and brother were in a dance recital and I got out and rode, so it was good exercise, I had originally planned to attend a concert that was scheduled for 1400 hours, A Choral Celebration. Upon arriving though, early as it were as the time dwindled down it was understood that, apparently it had been canceled. Now I had traveled to the College where the performance was expected to take place and saw my brothers bike out front locked up. Not to securely which I am sorry to say was proven later that night when he was expecting to travel home.
His bike a Specialized Rock Hopper, red and black, a nice bike had been stolen while he was performing. A good bike but more built for Mountain Biking, and not so much for commuting though that is what he used it for regularly.

I would of liked to tell him that ineffectiveness of cable locks but apparently he saw by example. I wrote an article on bike security on my blog which could of helped in that situation but there can be no guarantees.

In the end his bike was stolen while he was in the recital which is a sad story so I ask:

What has been your experience in bike security? How do you prevent your bike from being stolen. And some reviews of good products you have used.

I appreciate your comments. I wish you each a happy holiday season.

And let us all Ride On!

Sorry to hear about your brother's bike. I don't commute, I only ride for excercise and organized rides so 99% of the time, my bike isn't unnattended, either my @$$ or eyes are on it. It seems like your brother took precautions but sadly, thieves will find a way. I hope your brother gets his bike back.

THanks for the response
 

I appreciate the condolences, it is good exercise. Yeah it is also a hope of mine, perhaps, in the new year it will be all that much more planned ahead. Regardless I will still cycle commute as I believe my brother will do the same.


Happy Holidays
Ride On...

Any idea how the lock was defeated? Was it left behind or taken with the bike?

When I do have to lock up my bike, I use the Sheldon Brown method (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html), modified with the cable lock being run through the seat rails as well as the front wheel and frame (I have a quick release seatpost, which he doesn't recommend). I almost always remember to take all my accessories with me when I lock up.

Bikes aren't very popular here, so usually when I lock up my bike it's the only one in the area. That may actually be a bad thing, since there's no "easy target" bikes for the potential thief to take instead of my bike. On the other hand, the low popularity of bikes in the area may also mean there aren't a whole lot of people wandering around town looking for bikes to steal.

One day I had to lock my bike up outside and forgot to take my 3 Planet Bike Superflash taillights and Topeak Road Morph G pump off of my bike. That's alot of $ in accessories just sitting out in the open, locked to a handicapped parking sign in a park for about 8 hours. When I came back I was very happy to see everything was still there. On the other hand a friend of mine left his bike outside the parking lot access door to the apartment building he was living in when he went in to get something real quick, and when he came back a few minutes later his Cat Eye LED headlight had been stolen.

Bike theft is big business in NYC, and I've had 2 stolen in 10 years.

The original U locks are useless unless used with other chains/locks, as with lever action, they can be broken.

The heavier, hardened steel U locks are much better, but I use a Kryptonite New York Chain with the mini-U padlock.

1st bike theft - popped original (large) Kryponite U. (Estimated time to steal: 3 to 5 seconds.)

2nd bike theft - picked Kryptonite barrel-key padlock on chain. (It was the earlier variety, and I'd pick-tested it, so thought it was safe.) The thieves left the chain and lock (re-locked) on the post after removing the bike. (Estimated time to steal: 5 seconds to open lock/take bike; 2 seconds to re-secure chain/lock to post.)

Accessories (and any clips or brackets which hold them) cannot be left unattended on a bike.

Anything and everything that can be stolen will be.

Probably the "highest risk" situation is to be parking a bike in a rough neighborhood for hours at a time. I do most of my riding near downtown Houston, which probably the crime capitol of Texas.

If I'm going to leave a bike out of my sight for hours in downtown Houston, I combine a bunch of different security techniques:

- I ride a twenty year old bike that is scratched, dented, and beat-up looking. The bike rides as nice as a brand new $2,000 bike, but it looks like it is worth $5.

- I use the "Sheldon Brown" method and lock the rear wheel to a steel post set in concrete using a Kryptonite New York u-lock, or an OnGuard Brute u-lock. I use a second Kryptonite or OnGuard u-lock to secure the front wheel to the downtube.

- I select places where there is a lot of foot traffic. Next to the ticket booth at the movie theatre, not in the alley behind the theatre.

- Avoid most bike racks. The typical bike rack is flimsy and is weaker than your lock. I lock to thick steel poles set in concrete, looking for the thickest pole my lock will fit around.

- Park next to a brand new Trek or brand new Cannondale. Crooks are lazy and dumb, but even a dumb, lazy crack freak knows a pawn shop pays $50 for a sharp new Trek and pays nothing for a 1985 beater bike.

Any bike worth its salt can be stolen or stripped or damaged. I used to repossess bikes - never had any trouble. Nobody argues with a determined fellow carrying bolt cutters and other tools.

So I never leave my bike locked. If I have to go in a store for a moment I flick the quick releases open and jamb a twig to lock a brake. Or I take the bike in.

Never had one stolen this way.

Otherwise it's a risk.

Repossess bikes? For whom?

Sounds like a sugar coated term for stealing 'em for personal profit to me.

I leave the bike unlocked, then I get my trusty rifle....

sad to hear about your bro loss of bike.

i had one of my favorite bikes stolen from a double locked (door/cable) shed. they were out of sight out of existance to theft, i thought.

i still keep my bikes inside, locked. if someone really wants to get the bike, they will. the locks are a deterent to help keep the honest people honest. (my own rationalization)

to keep history from repeating, could your bro bring the next (or hopefully recovered) bicycle into the place he is acting at? (out of sight/existance)

[almost] 'nuff said...an alternative is the Kryptonite NY Lock/Chain to lock both wheels. If the bike is nice enough, people will strip it (take headset, fork, etc.)

I use a light cable and cheap little padlock for quick stops figuring it is just enough to discourage the random test rider or completely unprepared thief. Otherwise, I brazenly haul my ride indoors.

Happy holidays.

Ya - indoors w/me is where my bike is when I'm home!

I'm lucky enough that I can park my bike indoors at school in my "office". Elsewhere, I have a heavy-duty multi-braided wire lock that locks the frame to the bike rack, and a chain to lock the wheels to the frame.

Thanks for all your input, it is sincerely appreciated.
I have had two bikes stolen recently, and it bothered me that it happened to my brother also but that has already been made clear.

When I look back I realize the mistakes I made, and though it took two experiences to get the point through my thick head I realized after the second some of the weaknesses when I looked at how they were locked up.

The first one was a Schwinn Ranger 2.6 fs, a 130 dollar target special. Though after the modifications, including adding a rack, new tires and better gearing the price was higher. Apparently so much so someone found interest in it and decided to take it home. To clarify, it was locked in a parking garage with a camera watching it, so I figured it was a bit more secure. I used the basic cable and key lock. In that was my mistake. When I look back after watching the surveillance video I realized how useless those cameras can be. It just took a moment, the camera blocked, the thief walks in and walks out and no more bike.

The second experience, Brand New Giant Rincon retailing for about 350 usd modified to my preference, I rode to work each day and locked it up to a railing right in front of the restaurant I was working at using the same cable and lock, and right after I get back from a break I lock up my bike and go into work Less than two hours later the security who by the way was supposed to be patrolling the area walks up and hands me a cut cable, all that is left of my bike. Just that moment he had gone into a laundromat next door and was talking with some people there instead of watching the grounds. Useless it would seem, so I filed a report and the bike is still gone, there was a clue I might be able to get it back through the supposed insurance the owners of the lot offer but I don't know and even if I could I wonder if it would be worth the time or the effort.

Finally, the most recent addition, after waiting near three months to have it arrive, a black and grey rincon 21 inch frame, locked with a OnGuard Lock U Lock with Cable and insured up to 2150 usd for failure of the lock or at least that is the story I been told but I have not tested it and verified. Thus far every time I come out of the store my bike is still there. And I am glad don't think it is worth another three month wait to ship from china.

I was wondering though on the suggestion of a rifle, you talking short stock or full length? :) Also when you have so many locks how do you carry it all?

Thanks for your time and Ride On....securely so you come out to your trusty stead always.

I have a 39-year-old bike, locked with a $100 lock - the Kryptonite chain and small U-lock. The rear wheel has its own separate lock, and the seat is attached with a length of old bicycle chain. I carry the locks in the basket. You have a basket, right?

The main lock would take over 10 minutes to cut with an electric cutter. The lock is not one of the ones you can pick with a pen.

I live in New York City. This method has never failed me.

A Basket? :)
 

Yeah sure, on my bike I have panniers on both sides over a rear rack and rack trunk on top of that. I usually carry OnGuard Lock in the trunk pack and take it out and secure my bike. I understand what you were saying just wondered how that many locks can be carried. So the just of it at least in my own opinion better to be as secure as possible then to just scrape by.

Thanks for Your Input .... And Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah if that your flavor.
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After the feast and the time with family, get out there and ride and burn them excess calories. :)

New Years Resolutions ... to ride all the more and have my same bike by the year end. B-)

Is it better to buy a new bike when one is stolen or to repair an old bike?

Vote Now!