Looking to buy a new bike, would like comments
 

I'm thinking of buying this bike: Gazelle Lite Hybrid Superieur.
I would change the handlebars to a trekking bar though, like seen on this other model: Gazelle Medeo Trekking.

It's a good brand, light, and doesn't have a lot of extranuous crap that I don't need for commuting 5 kms throught the city. Only downside is that it's rather pricy, and that I wouldn't like it stolen. I had a look at where people park their bikes here at the office though, and it's completely away from the road, with lots of other bikes that may not be as expensive but with locks that are a lot crappier than the one I'm plannig to put on mine.

For barhopping and other riskier areas I'd continue using my current bike that could probably be accurately described as a beater.

Any thoughts ?

Thieves choose the bike based on the ease of theft first, then type of bike. A good lock should be enough of a deterrent, especially with other crappily locked bikes in the vicinity.

Gazelle are very popular bikes here in Holland - good solid build.

I had another look today (I'm taking my current bike for now), and while the bike parked next to mine had a U-Lock that looked decent (I'm no expert), not only did the owner leave a pump on it, but also a bike computer ! :eek: I like how the bike parking is secure enough that those didn't get stolen, but leaving that computer is just stupid. (Hell, I thought about stealing it myself.)

why? was it a wireless one? if not then it would be more trouble to take it than its worth because you have to get correct setup (they aren't universal...). not that I would really consider taking one because I am happy with my very basic walmart schwinn setup...

In some places leaving detachable parts on your bike is just tempting vandalism, even (especially?) in a pretty bike-friendly place like Seattle. My wife had her computer stolen off her handlebars. Bracket-wire-sensor, magnet, all left behind.

Man I dig that chain guard. If you get the bike and don't want the chain guard, let me know!

Companies do sell mounting hardware separately, and it's usually much cheaper than getting the whole package. Plus, lots of people might steal the computer because they think it's going to work with any mount. They'll learn otherwise, of course, but that doesn't do the rightful owner much good.

That said, my boyfriend regularly leaves his rack bag with tools on the bike when he parks it on the street (sometimes he will take the pump and a few of the other more expensive items if he's parking the bike for a long time). It requires no tools to attach/detach, but does take a bit of time getting all the straps in the right place and buckling all the buckles, so he doesn't want to bother with that. So far, nobody stole the bag or any of its contents.

I ordered it today. I do hope I'm going to be able to sustain the effort of biking to work instead of taking the bus, otherwise this will have been a lot of wasted money.

And the computers: leaving something that detaches as easily as that on a bike is just an invitation to steal it here. I left my front light on my bike just once when I was going to the shop, and it was gone when I returned. (Including the attachment system, which was removeable without tools.) The rule is to never let anything detachable on your bike, because you might just as well throw it away. I'm not just amazed that he leaves it, I'm more amazed that it isn't gone yet.

Belgium eh? If it's anything like my experience in Holland you're ok for theft.

Yeah, perhaps. I'm in Gent, which is a big student city, and thus rather infamous for bike theft. Still, I've only ever had 1 bike stolen (my old 4-speed bike I took with me from home), and that was when I lent it out for a night to a friend. He told me locked it, but I'm doubtful. Hell, he could've left it somewhere and been too drunk to remember where exactly.