AustinGeobiker

Hi I've just started getting more serious about cycling and I bought a new $700 Hybrid/Urban bike (quite an upgrade from my Walmart comfort bike) and I'm interested in keeping it in my possession (out of creepy thieving hands)...

How do you guys lock your bikes at the University of Texas?


Should I even lock a $700 bike at UT if its not overnight?
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EDIT: What I meant to ask was should I risk even locking it outside. I used to lock my old walmart bike with a u-lock. I don't have an office though so it's hard to bring my new bike inside.

What I was asking is - would you guys risk it by locking it outside during the day? Or pay 48$ a year for a self-contained bike locker box? Or should I just keep a set of locks and chains at school for this and lock it in a safe place?--------------------------------------------------------------

Any other advice? What's the best way to luck up a bike at the bike racks? I've got a U-Lock Masterlock but it seems like people like Kryptonite...is there a difference?

Thanks for the help! I'm a forum newbie!https://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Texasfietser

You should absolutely lock up your bike any time you're on campus, day or night, and I recommend you purchase the best Kryptonite U-lock you can afford for this purpose. It's an open campus, and there are plenty of sketchy characters around.

I never had a bike pinched when I was in grad school there 25 years ago (I was able to keep my bike in my office in Waggoner Hall), but I knew people who did.

Hope you enjoy UT as much as I did, and Hook 'Em Horns.

StephenH

What I've seen is that 2/3 of the bikes are cheapo walmart bikes that aren't worth stealing, and are still locked up. Very definitely lock it, preferably, just keep it inside. Good U-locks are supposed to be the best choice, or two different kinds of locks.

cycle16v

Yeah- lock that bike down. Use two locks if at all possible. Use a U-lock as one of the two. I'd also recommend registering your bike with the national bike registry just incase it gets stolen, you might have a chance of getting it back.

It's unfortunate but it's the reality of the world we live in.

droptop

U-lock thru the frame and back wheel to the rack, and then run a cable thru the wheels, to the u lock and around the rack. also, if you have a quick release seat post, change that for an allen bolt one.

you can also change the skewers for locking ones, so even if you don't lock thru the wheels, its incredibly difficult to steal them.

I live in san marcos, and I normally just run the u-lock thru the frame and rear wheel. I have yet to have a front wheel stolen, but austin is a whole nother beast. you can also get a brinks cable comparable to the kryptonite heavy chain at walmart for about $15.

rix

A $700 bike at any university is much more likely to be stolen than a cheapo beater bike.

If you want to park an expensive bike up in public, you will probably have to carry more weight in locks than what the bike itself weighs.

Get a Kryptonite NYC Fahgettaboutit U-Lock AND a Fahgettaboutit chain, and use locking skewers (I like OnGuards) on anything you don't want taken away from you (like your seat post.)

Otherwise, take the money you would spend on those locks and instead buy a cheap used bike ($50-100) and a decent U-lock (Krypto Evolution or OnGuard PitBull) + chain/cable combo and keep your good bike locked up at home for pleasure riding.

jeanHTX

I hear things are really terrible at UT in terms of bicycle theft. I would just not keep it in one place for too long, and as for locking it overnight, forget about it. Keep it in a highly trafficked area during the day, where a lot of students will be, etc.

Monoborracho

All bikes weigh 40 pounds.

This thread reminds me of the above adage.

A 20# bike needs a 20# lock.

A 35# bike needs only a 5# lock.

AustinGeobiker

Thanks everyone!

What I meant to ask was should I risk even locking it outside. I used to lock my old walmart bike with a u-lock. I don't have an office though so it's hard to bring my new bike inside.

What I was asking is - would you guys risk it by locking it outside during the day? Or pay 48$ a year for a self-contained bike locker box? Or should I just keep a set of locks and chains at school for this and lock it in a safe place?

How much do those fahgettaboutit locks cost?

Is it safe to lock up a 700$ bike in a high traffic area during the day?

I would never imagine leaving this puppy out alone at night

Anymore suggestions?

jeanHTX

i would lock it outside during the day if it didn't look like a sketchy area, i'm sure you can get an idea or feel of what a sketchy area is. are you taking classes, teaching or a staff member? if you're teaching or a staff member, i'm sure you could keep it in your classroom/in close proximity in a backroom somewhere you could tell your co-workers could help you watch it as well. i've never seen a locker box type thing... maybe think of getting an older type beater bike? my $900 bike stays inside and only goes with me on long rides, so never really needs to be locked up. my $200 bike, however commutes with me to school (st. eds), work sometimes and any restaurant, etc.

after this entire message, i think the answer is no, i wouldn't risk my $700 investment.

amillhench

I wouldn't park it on campus either. Check out Mellow Johnny's lockers, find a friend who lives near campus and will let you park inside daily, or buy a beater. Plenty of people get bikes stolen w/ U locks around campus. Good luck.

Jean, I just noticed your at SEU too. Nice to not worry about bike thieves as much.

jeanHTX

do you go to st. eds?

kwrides

Here you go: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

mnkyman

To the OP: DON'T DO IT!

Don't take a $700 bike out as a commuter...use your old walmart bike for your commuter and leave the expensive bike in your dorm or apartment for use when riding. Trust me...You can park your bike in the most congested areas of campus with the best locks and someone can still steal it...I had a friend loose a ~$2000 mtb that he had locked up (with proper locks and everything) in front of jester...it was stolen mid day...

As far as those bike lockers, they are located in the parking garages which are on the bordres of campus, so you would still have a walk to get to your class...

I guess a good question to ask is where/how far from campus do you live?

jtotheizzoe

Austin bike thieves are some of the most creative around. UT's bike racks also suck the big one. Half of them can be pried apart with a hammer, and the other half I don't think are actually bolted to the ground, just "pretend bolted" so they look safe. Next thing you know, the thief steals your bike and the expensive locks hanging from it.

Bike registration with PTS will do no good either. I have had one $800 bike jacked on campus already, U-bolted to the max. 1 in 5 people I know who ride have lost a bike.

Moral of the story: Get an office, find a friend with an office, find a closet, beg your building admin . . . anything. But leaving any $200+ bike outside at UT is a ticking theft time-bomb if you ask me. Mine come inside, every day, any time.

AustinGeobiker

Thanks everyone. I just purchased some Kryptonite NY locks that come with insurance policies. I have my bike registered with UT PTS but is there an Austin bike registry? Like APD or City of Austin?

Does anyone know anything about those National Bike Registry things? Worth it?

Kevrob

Hang a sign on it that says Property of Charles Whitman.

Kevin

kwrides

Make sure you read the insurance policy and that your specific situation will be covered.

Mr_Christopher

I got that. Ha ha.

dougmc

Buy one of these bikes instead --



-- this particular bike has been sitting in the West Mall at UT since at least February. And it's only $140 at Wal-Mart!

I'm actually fairly serious. Don't take a nice bike to UT. And if you take a crap bike and lock it properly, odds are they'll leave it alone.

(And this bike isn't even really locked properly. Mini U-locks are even better, and the back wheel isn't locked at all. I suggest a mini U-lock for the frame and a wheel, and a cable lock to lock up both wheels and the frame to the bike rack too.)

The insurance policies that come with locks are useless -- there's too many exclusions that are outside of your control. If you want insurance, get real insurance from an insurance company. But if you think your Kryptonite policy is worth something, read it, carefully. Follow the instructions to the letter -- any deviation will result in them denying a claim. But be aware that they'll only pay if the thief breaks the lock open in certain ways, and only if he leaves the lock there for you to send in.

mnkyman

^lol i've seen that bike. That's right by the stairway that leads to the post office right?

dougmc

Yup!

big_heineken

There is an enclosed courtyard in Jester West with bike racks. I had a bike locked there for a year without a problem. But it was a few years ago. At least you need to swipe your ID to get into the courtyard.