Frank B

I ride in a heavily college town. There are 5 within a very short radious. What this also means.... in the last two years I've had 2 bikes stolen and one lost in a hit and run.

My current bike is really my baby, and my major mode of transportation. Are there any good ways to lock something up? maybe, possibly? Without taking out the wrench and taking off every removable piece possible.

The thiefs in this town do like to be evil. One of those bikes had an insured kyrptonyte lock on it. They cut it off and took it with them.

blue_neon

I always take my quick-release seat with me in my backpack, when i leave my bike chained up. I chain up the front wheel and the frame, and use one of those spiral-shaped, springy chains, they are hard to cut and remove quickly. Put your bike in a public place where there are lots of people walking past, that might help. I dont need to take any thing off the bike besides my seat, and computer.

There are some stupid people out there who would just take things off and destroy things for the fun of it. I dont find it funny and dont get the joke

Seeker

How about a cable lock and a u-lock. The canble can be threaded through the tires, frame and seat and the Ulock used to secure the bike to an solid post. I underatand that each kind of lock takes a separate tool (I think bolt cutters for the cable and a jack for the u-lock). If nothing else the theives might move on to easier pickings.

operator

Yep. Best bet is dual locks. Cable + U-Lock. Note I did not say this was the end all and be all of solutions.

If you don't want your bike to get stolen chain it to yourself with handcuffs.

jlin453

I use a Kryptonite U-lock that locks my front wheel and frame to the bike rack. I guess I could use the chain that came with the package to secure the rear but I don't like carrying it around.

ajkloss42

The best bet is to bring your bike with you everywhere. You can remove a pair of STI shifters in about a minute with an allen key and a wire snip, so imagine how fast a thief could do it. If you deal with the ignorant who won't let you bring your bike inside, try to find a bike locker for your bike. If you can't do that, use lots of locks that have varying mechanisms so a would be thief will need a bunch of tools and technical knowledge. It seems to be using a mix of keyed and combo locks from multiple vendors is the way to go, especially in light of the recent bad news about Kryptonite barrel-key u-locks that's been brought to light in the last few days.

https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=66128&page=1

Also, avoid parking your bike for extended periods of time, and don't park in at the same place regularly. Either park in clear sight of many passers-by, or where nobody (especially a potential thief) will find it. Ride a crappy fixed gear that no one would want to steal that doesn't have any valuable parts on it.

nocoins

from living in center city philadelphia, i find it also very necessary to "mess up" your bike, use lots of tape and tire tubes, personalize it best you can so the would be theif cant ride it a few blocks without someone recognizing it as yours. i have a homemade fender on my bike made of scrap metal, nothing is quick release, its a fixed gear bike, its covered in tape and i have my name (nocoins) along the side of it.

I keep my sh1t ugly and dirty!

lock up everything and NEVER leave it overnight, even if you have 4 locks on it. also, after the recent news, dont use your Kryptonite U-Lock anymore. ugh, what a mess that is.

LittleBigMan

I believe the best way to lock up a bike is behind a closed door.

adamfresno

I hear you! I ride my bike to campus too, luckily I can take my bike in most of my classes, if there is room. OTher times I lock my bike on the 4th floor where offices are, not much foot traffic, hidden from view, I use a U lock and wire lock and take my front wheel with me.

That way if they want my bike they have to carry it down 4 floors...oh WAIT, there is a an elavator..dam it!

I was wondering, my campus pays peoplee to drive around on golf carts and give lazy asses rides to their cars...how come they cant make a bike garage with survelance and security. MAybe make a campus ID required...they pay people to do useless stuff..why not something useful.

Some bike stings would by campus cops would be nice too...they are real cops, but all they do is direct traffic during games and write tickets...why not bust some jerks...I think campuses need to be more proactive...

good times

John Ridley

I live in an area where I don't even carry a lock and no problems, so take with a grain of salt, but Master's cuff lock looks damn good, if pretty expensive (well > $100 for their really tough one).

larue

I was looking at these bikes called Bigha's (type of recumbent) online and they actually come with a theft deterrent alarm. Apparently the system detects motion in any direction then beeps if the bike is moved, if riding persists then a 100 decibel alarm sounds off.
I wonder if there are systems like this you can add to any bike?

larue

Oh I answered my own question, https://www.bicyclealarm.com/
Has anyone used one of these things, might scare the thief off or at least attract attention don't you think?

supcom

The best advice is to lock your bike to a strong unmovable object located in a well lit public area (assuming you can't secure it in a locked room) using two separate types of strong locks. A Ulock and a hardened security chain (not hardware store chain) with a strong padlock (preferably with a shrouded shackle are probably the best bets. Hiding your bike 'where a thief will never find it' is a good way to give a thief all the time in the world to defeat your locks. Whatever hides the bike will hide the thief. You should also not lock the bike in the same place all the time to make it harder for a thief to case out your bike and return the next day with the tools needed to steal it.

Remember that no lock is 100% secure. Locks help discourage opportunity thieves and buy time with serious thieves. You should try to determine your exposure. Exposure is the probability of the bike being stolen times the vaule of the bike. Given no other changes, it seems that the chance of your bike being stolen is near 100%. That being the case, you should minimize your exposure by reducing the value of the bike. There is no sense in your situation to be using a $1000+ bike unless you like to replace your bike often. I would look for an old thrift store bike and lock it up real well. Save your 'baby' for weekend rides and times when you do not have to leave it for more than a few minutes at a time.

supcom

Probably as effective as a car alarm (i.e. ineffective) and liable to result in a few swift kicks from other bike rack users who accidentally bump your bike.

Raiyn

Guess again. They've been opened with a BiC pen

MichaelW

Remove all QRs and replace with bolts. Ride a hack bike that works much better than it looks. Add rack, fenders and dynamo lighting. This seems to reduce its desirability. A low cost hack will also reduce your stress level if it does get stolen.
I used to lock my old hack bike outside in a high-crime, druggy neighbourhood. It survived 2 years without being attacked.
Hiding your bike from view is a strategy for places with no professional bike thieves, but plenty of drunk idiots who like to let tyres down and kick wheels in.

hooligan

1) Take off both wheels and lock them in your locker or put them in another place.
2) TAke off the front wheel skewers.
3) www.kryptonitelock.com has tips and tricks for locking things up.
4) Don't use a lock with a circular shape as now they can be picked by BIC pens, it's the latest news.
5) Take the seat
6) Make it look dirty and unattractive. If it means taking off your brand new boxxer and putting a pilot or duke or z1 drop off on, then so be it. Make it dirty, but make your seat area clear so people know that you ride it.
7) Make a fake sticker "Monitored by WEBcorp minicams" or something. And register it with police, so the police know when it's found. Put some evidence that it's yours in the handle bars and tell the police that theres evidence in the handle bars.
8) Lock it against something hard and put 2+ Locks. Get 2 strong chains (really really strong chains, check the General Cylcing and youre new u-lock is not safe. Chains and Locks are mentioned around the 15-23 page range. And like 1 u lock. It's worth it.