Mountain Mitch

I plan to do a lot more whitewater canoeing this year. The problem with canoeing on moving water is that it’s usually a one way trip. And, with all the rules about distancing it will be even less likely than usual that shuttling will work. So, I decided to get an old beater bike to hide near the take-out point. My DW, failing to understand that N+1 is always a good thing, suggested that one of the less used bikes in the stable get to serve this function.

I figured that wasn’t too much of a concession as the thought of riding a true beater for a number of km. Back to the launch point was really less than appealing. I have pretty much decided on my older aluminum Allez. It’s kind of mid sized so either the DW or I can ride it. But it is worth a few hundred bucks so, even though there’s not a lot of theft around here, I an looking for tips about locking and hiding it.

Of course, if dirt roads are involved I may have to use my fat bike or my Stump Jumper, either of which are more likely to attract thieves, so the hiding and locking are even more important!

big john

I can't help with an answer but I had a customer (I was a car mechanic) who was a record holding hang glider. He would stash a bike near the landing area at the foot of a 4000 foot mountain and drive up with his kite. After his flight he would land near the bike and he would stash the kite and ride the mountain bike back up to get his truck. A great athlete.

Mountain Mitch

Ha-ha! I don’t think my vertical will resemble Your customers! But it’s the same general idea. Obviously I’ll stash the bike but I have heard of various methods of locking (eg. Chain ring) and I have no idea whether they’re an effective deterrent.

Or is it better to leave the bike locked out in the open so would-be thieves have to operate in the public eye (if anyone’s around)?

Steve B.

Modify the take out point to nearer a place where you can stash the bike ?, a nearby home ?.

Kind of hard to suggest anything specific without knowing where the canoe trip is.

Mountain Mitch

It is a variety of trips. Pretty much any whitewater. Typically 10-40 kms. Obviously there’s a certain amount of common sense involved, But it’s just that, in this area, I have about zero experience with securing a bike. I actually cannot remember the last time I locked a bike. What I was wondering was whether there were any pointers I should know. I thought more urban people would be expert at locking up bikes so that no one could take them! Types of locks, cables, leave the bike public or hide it....that kind of thing.

Greenhil

I’m not an urban person or a bike lock expert but I wouldn’t worry too much if it’s in the boondocks (it’s not clear how populated the take out areas are). There won’t be any professional bike thieves around and most locks should be enough to discourage the rest of us. Out here, where there’s forest, I’d opt for hiding it in the trees. Probably the biggest worry with that is remembering exactly where I’d hid it! I assume your canoe forays are day trips, so the bike isn’t going to be at risk for more than that amount of time. Now, about leaving your canoe at the take out point while you ride to your car...

nomadmax 

Buy or make a ghillie blanket.

3Roch

Before I moved to kayaking I used to do a LOT of ww canoeing . We used bike shuttle sometimes and as we paddled solo just tied the bike in the front of one of the boats and took it with us and one of us would bike back to the car. This was on stuff up to 3+ and didn't work on really narrow creeky stuff.

Steve B.

Some thoughts
- Take the seat and pedals with you, make the bike unattractive to steal.
- Lock to a tree with a cable lock, it's only to deter, won't really prevent somebody that has real tools
- Get a camo tarp, you'd want to keep the bike dry anyway, Maybe add branches to help hide.
- Use your GPS to mark the location.

Retro Grouch 

I wouldn't worry about it excessively.

A semi-expendable bike way out in the boonies away from the kind of thieves who are likely to come equipped with cutting tools.

Cougrrcj 

Take the bike apart and hide/lock the components in various trees nearby. Easier if wheels have quick-release hubs, and a quick release seatpost. generally people will ignore a bare-ish frame locked with a cable lock to a tree...

Wileyrat

I used to have a whitewater raft, and if you're concerned about shuttling, you must be paddling solo. I would be worrying more about the leaving canoe at the take out than a bike stashed in the woods.

If it were me I'd chain the bike 100' or so into the woods and throw some branches over it.

bikebikebike

Hidden from sight, partly disassembled, with a light chain, two beers and a note saying you are on the river and need this to get home.

Mountain Mitch

Thanks all, some great suggestions. I will certainly take the seat and hide the bike well in the woods. But I’ll make sure I have it clearly marked on my treasure map or GPS as I do want to be able to find it. My DW (dear wife, or d*****d wife as the occasion dictates!) is my usual paddling companion so she will stay with the canoe. Shuttles won’t work with just one vehicle!

Barry2 

Pick a Local Business (A Bar), ask nice and drop the guy a $20 too look after your bike.
If you are coming off the river and there is no "Local Business" - then you chose poorly for a spot to come off the river anyway!

Barry

BTW how do you delete a Spoiler you no longer want?

Maelochs

Actually, if the exit ramp is in the wilderness, hide the bike really well, take off the wheels and pocket the skewers, lock everything together with a lock and chain, and then lock it all to a tree (or, if you can climb high enough, in a tree .... not many people look up.) if there is foot traffic around where you exit, that won't really help unless you lock up right in front of a very busy store .... so asking someone to hold it is a good idea.

Not many people are walking in the woods looking for bikes to steal. if there are two locks and chains, and no skewers so the person couldn't ride away .... but hopefully no one would ever notice anyway.

But yes on the GPS if you are just getting off the river wherever and not at an actual established boat ramp or dock or something.

I haven't been in a canoe or kayak yet in this century .... I'd sure like to but real life keeps interfering.

RichSPK

That's interesting. Could you bring ropes, hooks, maybe pulleys, secure them to branches, and raise the bike into a tree? This is likely more trouble than it's worth, but maybe?

Steve B.

I like the skewer removal trick.

Digger Goreman

Do those plastic bike boxes float?

(Truly ignorant question, as I have no idea)

Cougrrcj 

Most people do not look up past a few feet above ground level. Put something even just 8' above ground level (arms reach) and most will not see it. Wheels, seat/seatpost are easily lifted to that height and placed in a forked branch without any lifting apparatus, zip-tied to a branch if necessary. Leave the frame (chained/cabled) to a different tree, or lift that again even just arms length into a tree... Don't believe me? Try it next time you're out in the woods... see how easy it is to hide something that is broken down into parts...