Heed Smasha's Post!

were you studying security, or ethics?

seriously though, if you park near more desirable bikes with cheaper locks (or not properly locked, or not locked), you should be set. unless two guys put the rack into their van and drive off with all the bikes. it happens.

this is NYC, but if you know how to lock a bike in NYC you're set...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTA3JsZWiec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8UpUj_8tWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCbU83_G6nA

and yeah, you'll see crazy-expensive bikes on most campuses. usually they're the ones that always look new because they're the least used. high-end road bikes with platform pedals, high-end mountain bikes with no mud, etc. these bikes usually have the crappiest locks and the most clueless locking methods. all of these factors paint larger targets on them. and when they do get stolen, they're usually not reported or replaced because the owners never really used or cared about them... just an expensive gift from mom and dad.

a bike that would cost you $250 to replace isn't worth $250 to a thief. as long as there are bikes around that cost 4x more than yours, and there should be plenty, you should be fine with DECENT locks used properly.

It's not just the $250 for the bike, its the inconvenience of having it stolen. I live in a city, getting my bike stolen means having to take cabs to my clients which easily can hit $500 a month. I use kryptonite ny fahgeddabout it chain. It and the lock weigh 13 lbs! I wear it around my neck like a necklace. Takes getting used to but once those muscles are strong its no problem to ride 30 minutes like that. I also use pinhead skewers on the wheels, seatpost , saddle, and fork. Run inexpensive components on your bars because thieves can still cut your cables and unscrew 4 stem bolts and get brake levers and shifters. This is why I love Microshift components. If my bars get stolen its only about $100 to get me up and running again.

Sheldon Brown's Lock Strategy

Basically? Two locks of different types, each of which take different tools to defeat. Also, ditch the quick release levers.

Ahh, yeah, I can see what you mean. It's definitley a smaller lock. I'm still inclined to think that they must have gotten something in between the "U" and pried it. Or maybe a few swings right at the lock portion? For my needs I feel pretty good as long as I fill the U and keep the lock facing down. Actually, to be perfectly honest, most places I go I'll be alright with the bare minimum as far as locking goes. But it never hurts to be prepared.

Thanks!

sheldon's lock strategy is sketchy. don't use it unless you really have to.

the "different tools" theory is crap: it depends on the locks, the tools, and the motivation of the thief. you may stop a thief, you may not... it WILL take longer to cut through two locks than one lock, so to that extent it is a deterrent... but if the bad guy has a van, and only one lock is securing your bike to a solid object, the 2nd lock can be dealt with at the bad guy's leisure.

note that the video posted earlier in the thread, with police and TV stings, all of the bad guys had very small tools suited for cutting cheap/crap cables. ask the campus police what tools/techniques are used to break locks... or what types of locks are most often busted... if U-locks and heavy chains keep the bike safe, use a U-lock and/or a heavy chain. if the bad guys are using angle-grinders, then your best defense is a cheap/ugly bike.

when you consider that 10-20% of the bike's value should be spent on locks, factor in the inconvenience, lost time, the sentimental value, PITA, etc. this is almost always greater than replacement cost.

when a bad guy looks at the same bike, the primary concern is resale value. this is almost always lower than replacement cost.

@dontstealbikes - if you can lock up in the same place every day, consider a very heavy lock that you leave there, locked to the rack. then just carry a smaller lock, just in case. also don't forget to lock up at home.

His strategy was fair at the time that he wrote it. However, things have evolved to the point where your strategy is now, just a bit more practical. We are spiraling downwards!

Thanks Cyclomania!