Perhaps this is more for the commuter?...How do you keep your saddle (leather) and paint job from scratches when trying to lock the bike up for a short time? Other than laying it down, trying to lock it to a sign post or telephone pole always leaves me with a new scratch I just assume not have...

I handle this very easily. Just get a used town bike that you're not afraid of leaving on a sign post or telephone pole. The "Good" bike should never be left on a pole or you'll risk losing it.

"Prestine" and "Commuter bike" are terms that don't generally go together.

Wow!!!

Yeah, you notice that misspelling too?

But yeah, trying to keep a commuter bike pristine is just making trouble for yourself. Commuter bikes get scratched, dented, dirty, vandalized, etc. If you want your favorite bike to stay pretty, don't commute on it. Pick up a thrift store bike and commute on that. It's just a lot more practical if you don't have the expectations of cosmetic perfection everlasting.

I guess you can get clear vinyl decals to place on the areas your going to prop upagainst posts and such.

as far as the saddle, try to find a lycra seat cover you can fit on it while your bike is parked.

Hardware stores sell foam pipe insulation designed to keep plumbing from freezing in the winter. It's a tube with a slit down the side so you can slip it over pipes without disturbing them. You can carry a short length of it and fit it over the part of the tube that contacts the sign post.

My Nashbar rain gear came with a detachable hood (which I never wear). One day, I found it was a perfect fit to cover my Brooks saddle, even has a draw string. Don

To avoid leaning my bike against anything and scratching it up, I have what you would call, in layman's terms, a kickstand.

A plastic grocery sack makes a fine rain cover. Just tie the loops together under the saddle. when the bag develops a hole, grab another. I park my commuter next to a grocery store, so there's always plenty of seat covers laying about.

I might try that...a small piece would carry just fine on the seat tube until I needed it. (The frame is black anyway). Owning another bike to commute on would be nice, but I like what I now own and try to take care of it. As far as fear of someone taking it - I fear getting hit by a car is more realistic but that doesn't keep me from riding. BTW - I've been teaching my daughter to ride, and just yesterday had a pickup cut us off -scared my daughter pretty good. Anyone know of a good hand gesture - other than the finger - to express our deepest appreciation to drivers like that?

My favorite is to look straight at them, and clap in appreciation.
Either they are too stupid to get the sarcasm, in which case ANY gesture is wasted, or they do get it and feel the shame.

Gesture like you're calling the cops on them on your cell phone.

Back to the subject at hand: My friends down the street wrap their frames in old innertubes. Protects the finish, disguises the value, but adds a lot of weight.

The hand gesture that consists of picking up a brick and lobbing it at the offending vehicle. Involves all 5 fingers and seems to get the point across. ^_^

I usually blow them a kiss. Most of the time when a pickup gives me trouble there are two guys in the front seat. I figure if they see me blow them a kiss, one of them will start making fun of the other and accuse him of being gay. Maybe he'll spread the story amongst their other buddies.

To protect your frame, figure your best spots to lean, like the middle of the top tube and wrap it with some cheap bartape.

For a hand gesture, nothing beats the thumbs up, done so it is obviously a thumbs up. Sweep the arm around, and with a big smile.