pinetreeforest1

I'm currently living in a city that tops the charts for bikes stolen each year. I'm about to buy a used Road Bike, maybe the specialized allez or giant ocr 2. I've noticed these bikes are "flashy" looking and are likely targets for crack addicts, and thieves etc. I'm almost considering getting a totally different bike that doesn't like like anything special so it won't get jacked. Do any of you have nice bikes that you will lock up in the city?? I'd invest in one of those 60$ heavy duty locks, but even then, I donno. What do you think?

ElJamoquio

Bike goes inside the domicile/place of work. End of thread.

Gordo789

yeah, if i ride in to work, i keep my bike in the lab where i can watch it. I wouldnt leave it locked up on campus, college students are evil. See if theres some place in your work where you can just stick it kind of unobtrusively, that way you save $60 and you don't have to worry about whether or not some crackhead or jackass is going to mess with your bike.

If that is not an option, remember that it is really pointless to lock your bike to anything that is ridiculously weaker than the lock. So don't pull a bonehead move and lock up to a chain link fence.

vpiuva

Commuter/beater in the city? Old Time Women's Step-Through Frame (Mixte). No self respecting thief would be caught dead on it.

mech2o4

isnt it sad that you even considered getting a bike that you thought didnt look good just because you're afraid of it getting stolen...it'd be easy if everyone were honest, but i suggest using one of those heavy u-locks and a cable lock (to wrap your wheels) hopefully with this much hardware they'll loock for an easier target.

Blue Jays

You could always get a decent bike and have a good bicycle painter spray it in primer gray. Create your own brand like "Brownturds" and have the decals clearcoated underneath. It'll look sharp yet be simultaneously undesirable.

ElJamoquio

I said end of thread. I was a mod yesterday, don't make me ban you all.

vpiuva

You must have never looked at the 'desirable' bikes posted in SS/FG.

Blue Jays

Maybe we need to go for an even more repulsive "brand" name?

Sirrobinofcoxly

You don't lock up your road bike, and when you lock up your beater, you use a lot better than a $60 lock. Think more like $100+

ElJamoquio

Put a Motobecane sticker on it.

ElJamoquio

+Five million. See first reply of thread.

SDRider

Agreed. I never leave my bike unattended. I ride it from home to work and on weekend rides but it never sits anywhere that someone could just walk off with it. I don't even own a bike lock.

<--San Diego is my home.

EGreen

This is why beaters exist. My Ti bike is never an arms length away. If I must go into a store for a minute, it comes with me. (Surprisingly I get few complaints.)

Though, I must say that lately I've noticed a lot of decent, appealing road bikes with quality components as well as fixies locked up on the street here. Almost makes me want to steal them ...well it does make me want to steal them, but I've thus far resisted the impulse.

botto 

you live in amsterdam?

matanza

I did! It hasn't been stolen yet................ therefore it must werk! Jerk!

jkw

I have to agree with ElJamoquio. Even lower end bikes get stolen. I doubt many thieves discriminate, they just take what they see. My bike was stolen from my house - it wasn't expensive as far as bikes go.

I just got a new Bianchi, and it sleeps in my room with me! However, I doubt anyone in my neighbourhood would steal it or even ride it - the whole thing is in Celeste

I'm not really sure whether road bikes are more desirable to the casual thief, as most would probably feel more comfortable on a hybrid/mtb. Unless of course they know what they're doing.

Main point is never let any bike out of your sight, get a very good lock no matter what bike it is - probably a cable lock as well. Lock up somewhere bright/in sight.

I've seen some really nice bikes locked up here in London of all places. I saw a (possibly older) Colnago with full Centaur gruppo just locked to a thin fence with one lock through the back wheel. That guy must be crazy...

gcl8a

That's what I thought, too, but I suspect he means 'New Amsterdam'. I wonder which is worse.

botto 

per capita, me thinks Mokum, not the big Apple.

EGreen

Yeah this is a truism. If you put a new MTB purchased from Target or Walmart next to a Litespeed, I think more often than not they'll go for the MTB.

Hobartlemagne 

Wrap in electrical tape. It can be pretty again later if you want.

asmallsol

My road bike, under lock and key in my room. The bike I ride to and from campus, orange chain, handlebars spin if I hit bumps, seat post is frozen, broken about 8 pedals on it this year, spray painted black, never lock it up. if you want a road bike for in the city pick up an old vintage one for $50

Bacciagalupe

I don't let "nice bikes" that I own out of my sight, so....

Option 1: Get a (cheap) folding bike for your every day use, that way you can take it with you everywhere.
Option 2: Get a cheap-as-dirt fixed / single-speed bike and a good chain, so you won't care at all if it gets stolen.

superslomo

Road bike gets locked up for no more than a couple of minutes within eyesight.

I also have a 25 year old beater (steel schwinn roadie that I had in college) that I lock up with one of those 500 pound kryptonite New York Chains.

People steal components/handlebars/etc. even if they don't take the bike as a whole it isn't necessarily worth the headache.

Godwin

When theives see a new bike they go for it, this is one of the reasons I use a vintage bike for commuting, looks good and rides well. I still lock it up with an expensive lock (onguard bulldog with cable). If a theif sees a couple year old crappy schwinn and a top of the line 1970s Gitane (which mine isn't), he going to go for the schwinn.