If I were to lock my bike up with a 1/2" thick cable style bike lock in front of a store, what are the chances it will get stolen?

That depends on a whole lot more than the lock and cable.

What are the chances of someone simply deflating your tires because they think it's funny?

You bring up a very good point, the reason I ask is because I'm looking for jobs close enough I could ride to them, but most likely all I have to do is ask if I can store it inside (the loading dock or whatever the area might be) and they will let me.

Chances are excellent, depending on the neighborhood. A 1/2" cable is a joke to someone who wants a bike. I can be through this one in less than 10 seconds

Go and get a NEW Kryptonite U lock (non-cylindrical keyed) You want it small enough to go arounf the rear wheel and whatever you're locking it to. No bigger.
Here's why: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html
Keep the cable lock to secure the front wheel to the frame and you're set.

If you get a job somewhere, see if you can lock it out back or behind the store/restaraunt/factory/whatever.
The biggest part of bicycle theft prevention is chosing a place that won't draw attention to your bike.
Out of sight = out of mind.

It also depends how much your bike is worth to someone, theives are opportunists. They normally just look for the bikes that are unlocked around here since there isn't alot of bicyclist. Not to mention most theives don't know the difference between a huffy FS or a specialized rockhopper. They'll take the huffy and think they did good

The first lock that you put on your bike, regardless of how cheesy, is about 90% effective because it forces the potential thief to use some kind of a tool. Using two dissimilar locks is even better because it forces the thief to bring two different tools. Thieves are lazy so they'll usually look around for an easier target. That's the good news.

The bad news is that to go from 90% to 100% effective is a high tech game of one-up-manship that you will always lose. Given enough time and technology, any safety measure that you can dream up, a thief will figure a way around. If you lock up your bike in the same place every day, and the thief really wants it, it's toast. The thief can figure out what he needs to bring with him to steal either the whole bike or whatever he wants to take off of it, pick his time, and do the deed.

I disagree that bike thieves don't know anything about the bikes they steal. After all, if they are selling them, they will sooner than later figure out what things are worth.

Remember that SNL skit about the new car that looks like a POS? I'm waiting for carbon fiber that looks like rusted steel and dura-ace with barnacles on it.

HAHAHA! THATS SO TRUE!

AND WE CAN LEAVE THE COUNTRY, THEIVES CANT!

hey? if homer has a criminal record, why dose he have a passport?

Any lock can be circumvented given enough time. If a thief wants your bike, he's going to get it.

Okay, I know this sounds like a PIA but, the opportunist bike thief is looking for free transportation and a couple of bucks. They are going to ride off on it and it may eventually turn up at a pawn shop or floating in the river.

Although, most of us can't bring our bikes into the workplace- the pedals take up little space. Take the two minutes to remove the pedals from your bike and toss them in a drawer at work. A thief can't pedal the bike with just the crankarms.

Of course, this doesn't gaurantee safety, but if your bike has a real decent lock and no pedals - suddenly the target doesn't look like it's worth the effort. (or you can slide out the seatpost w/saddle and hope the a-hole that steals your bike enjoys a stiff one... um...you know what I mean...)

Indeed it does. Do you actually yank the pedals off?

That's one reason I like my eggbeaters... they make the bike look broken from the git-go LOL
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Way true.

Raiyn- No, I don't actually take the pedals off my bike.

A friend of mine does...for real. After having three bikes stolen last summer he decided that it was less of a hassle to crack the pedals off this bike than it was to get out of work and have no bike at all. So far-so good, I guess.

You have to understand though, the area that he works tends to attract people who will take just about anything. A truck was caught on surveillance tape that actually backed up to an ATM machine outside a shopping plaza, wrapped chains around it and yanked the whole thing out of the ground. I've heard of people breaking into ATM machines, but not usually taking the whole thing with them. (kinda hard to hide the evidence, ya think?)

Man you guys live/work in some crazy parts of the Country LOL.... Bikes get stolen in Montana, there is no doubt about that, but usually it's some hyped up 9th graders trying to be jerks.... not career criminals LOL. 3 bikes stolen? In one summer? Man I don't know what I would do......
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