frantik

i live in a big city, so if i'm not physically touching my bike when it's outside of my house, it gets locked up. "within eyesight" is far enough that someone could easily do a grab and go.

as someone mentioned upthread, locking your bike up is an important habit to teach your kids.. the only bike I've ever had stolen was when I was in jr high and left my bike unlocked at school

Flying Foot Doc

"Do you lock your bike at every stop when shopping?"

Like Frantik said, if it isn't being ridden or in my hand it is locked. My only stolen bike was when I was in middle school. I have a vintage Raleigh Competition for sale at my LBS, one of it's features is that it has never had a lock on it, it was either being ridden, held or in my home... Andy

Sanman023

i am the bike lock...wife, daughter and i rode our bikes to the supermarket yesterday...i was bikesitting on the bench while they shopped...then they stuffed everything in my backpack....im also the mule...

boulder74

I lock it. I use a kryptonite keyed cable lock that's about 1/4" thick. I also shift the gears when I park it in case someone wants to cut and ride, they'll drop the chain in the first spin attempt. I have had to go into a store on a long fitness ride for more water and gel....did the gears and took the front wheel in with me. That was a small mountain town though

maximumrob

I do. Back when I was a teenager (<20 yrs ago), we had a Trek 700 mtn bike stolen out of our garage. It was one of those places where garage doors were open when folks were home. No more.

These days, even on the nice side of Plano here in Texas, the self-proclaimed "metal recyclers" do so much trolling the alleys behind our houses that the garage doors MUST be shut.

Also, many of our so-called "undocumented workers" (we call them illegals here) need transportation that an unlocked bike is just as good as an old car.

xizangstan

For a short time, I managed some apartment buildings, and one afternoon as I came back in from a long ride, I was opening my apartment door, as a young Mexican girl came along and actually tried to grab my bike - while it was still in my hands! Illegals are pretty bold.

frantik

Did you actually know her immigration status or are you just being a bigot?

Artkansas 

I never lock my bike if I am closer to it than anyone else.

KD5NRH

People do it all the time here. Last time I talked to a cop about it, his estimate was that unlocked cars account for more than 75% of the BMV around here, and unlocked-with-keys-inside is about 50% of the auto theft other than by people who normally have access to the keys.

Heck, we had a dingus at work who got mad that he was getting written up for possessing alcohol on company property after he reported that someone stole a 12-pack of beer out of his unlocked car in the parking lot. It still amazes me how many of them will leave their windows down and then complain at the end of the shift because nobody told them when it started raining so they could roll them up.

freighttraininguphill

I lock it at every store. If it is going to be out of my sight I use 2 locks. One Kryptonite through the frame, front wheel, and rack, and a cable through the drive wheel and basket on the trike. I use my trikes for all in-town rides.

So far I have never had a bike stolen.

1FJEF

If I am going to step away from the bike it is locked. Every time. I will never leave a bike locked in one spot very long either (like going to a movie), just in & out of a store.
No bike lock/chain will stop the guys here, & if they want it & can't get it, they'll destroy. Welcome to central California (Northern Mexico). If you run out & try & stop them you're going to the hospital. If you call the cops you'll be put on hold & response time is 1 to 4 hours unless blood has been spilled.

Farmer Dave

I do. I just bought a new hybrid and i treat that bike like it's my baby. If i'm in town and i'm not on the bike it's locked. Period.

Farmer Dave

Haha I love it. I can totally picture that! I remember when I was a kid I would do that exact same thing to my dad. Oh Dad, they really are the best!