linus

If you get a Fixie, you don't have to worry.

superslomo

You might not have to worry about getting a fixie stolen where you are, but there are no guarantees around here... everything gets stolen in NYC.

Rman

(sorry about the quality of the pic from my cell phone). I have seen this bike parked in an alley for about 2 month with a cheap a$$ cable lock tied thru a chain link fence. So if you don't want to get your bike stolen - get one of these locks. Just kidding - I mean bike.

low8all

First, as mentioned, nothing beats just bringing it in with you.

If this isn't an option and you must, absolutely lock it up outdoors then consider locking it up in a high traffic, public area. You can at least make it harder for a thief to make off with your bike by taking a tire and the seat. It seems obvious that you would take your seat, but that coupled with a tire would at least make it more difficult for someone to not only steal it, but then also ride off with it. This way, your assured that anyone stealing it, would literally have to walk away with it. (of course they could very well show up with a tire and seat to use for the theft)

Basically you want to add a few factors that make getting away with it problematic and ultimately, not worth the effort no matter how nice a bike it is.

This could also included putting it within view of a security camera or store front. All things, that will deter a thief. It also helps to make yourself and your locked up bike woes aware to the people who might frequent the area, like security guards or building owners, co-workers and friends who might be passing your bike on a regular basis.

Also, consider getting a bike lock with an audio alert function. If it's tampered with, it goes off.

VATech02114

xyz

low8all

That's surprising, considering how twitchy Boston can be.

ElJamoquio

HAH! In Detroit they don't care if you steal a car!

low8all

I guess the moral is, don't waste your money on a lock. Just lean it up against the building.

VATech02114

abc

gmiller

On the show Braniac, they wanted to see how beligerent they'd have to be for someone to question them steeling a bike on heavy traffic streets of the UK. They started with small stuff, like taking an unlocked bike, then ended up using an angle grinder throwing sparks all over the place. No one ever questioned them.

At best a lock just buys you time. Professional grade safes are normally rated in the number of minutes required to defeat them. So if you leave your bike locked up in the same place, day after day, for long periods of time, you're really only deterring those unwilling to try to steal it.

cris2fur

my bike stays in my dorm room. and I still lock it to my bed frame.

Adgooroo

I followed a lengthy discussion on the SS/FG board about bike theft. The essence of the discussion was "no bike is safe, no lock is good enough" to eliminate the threat of theft. Lock your bike to a rack - they'll steal the whole rack. Lock it to a light pole, they'll cut the pole off to get the bike. Lock the wheels to the frame and they'll steal your seat. The big city roadies identified two types of thieves - druggies who take anything that isn't nailed down (- they might be deterred with the ultimate bike lock); and organized gangs, who have ALL the tools and the 'unmarked van' they need to take anything they want, regardless of the lock or the property they destroy in the process.

ElJamoquio

Friend of mine in college had an expensive camera in a huge 3 ft by 4 ft camera case. Had it bolted to the bed.

As a joke we stole the whole bed, but a thief could just hacksaw through in twenty seconds.

The funniest thing was he didn't even notice that the case, which took up half the room, was gone.

DocRay

No. Wrong. I've had three bikes stolen with the most expensive U-locks.

You cannot lock and leave an expensive bike, period.

Great story: Toronto is the bike theft capitol of North America, it beat New York in the 90s. In 1992, police responded to a call in High Park. They found a guy duct-taped to a tree with a Zefal pump in his anus, he would not explain what happened, but the police concluded from the tools on him that he was a bike thief who tried to steal from the wrong guy.
I have zero tolerance for bike thieves, exactly what I would have done.

vpiuva

Priceless

Xrisnothing

The other day I walked out of Stubb's in Austin to find a front wheel with a Mavic hub chained to a light post. I felt bad for the owner, but damn. Lock your frame next time, guy.

The next day I saw a road bike locked to a chain link fence near La Zona Rosa and a cop on a Litespeed. I don't wonder why Austin is on the top ten list of cities in the U.S.A. for bike theft. No one locks their bikes correctly.

low8all

lol!

cmh

I was thinking Beijing. I am not sure if it is worse than Amsterdam, but in Beijing you aren't considered a resident until you have had a bike stolen.

ChrisPDX

A while back there was an article in a local Portland paper about a guy who stole his own bike in broad daylight all over town.

https://www.wweek.com/editorial/3242/7923

I think the bottom line is that any bike with any lock can potentially be stolen. Of course your odds improve as the bike gets crappier and the lock gets better. The problem with the better locks is they usually add a lot of dead weight. For roadies if you aren’t planning on stopping for long (i.e. you don’t have a change of clothes, non-biking shoes, etc) you can probably get by without a lock. There is always the trick of shifting to your largest gear and removing the back quick release. As always, keep the bike within a few arm lengths.

That being said, if you are going to make a stop where your bike will be in plain sight (convenience store, coffee shop, etc) then a decent lock and a little diligence should prevent nearly all potential thieves provided you don't take an eye off your ride.

-Chris

ratebeer

This worked for me...

Idunno445

Interesting article, thanks for posting it.

Blaireau

Nice guy post.

Blaireau

Lol!

grsing

I'm in DC, which isn't exactly the safest place for bikes. Nice(r) bike stays in the house unless I'm actually on it; the bike I actually lock various places is a piece of junk (though in good working order), and it's locked better than most other peoples' (decent u-lock through front wheel and frame, locked to something secure, with a decent cable lock through the rear wheel). I figure it's not worth the trouble for a thief; only thing I ever had stolen was the saddle & seatpost; when I replaced it I took off the quick release and then zip-tied through it, plus it's a cheap saddle, and haven't had trouble since. So, as for the OP, either a cheap bike not worth stealing, that is still reasonably well locked up, or a good bike that stays with you.

ElJamoquio

Fixed the typo.