On lock-related threads, I like to add this little anecdote. On a 4,000 mile trip across the country, I found that I used my lock (a heavy U-lock, unfortunately) only once. I didn't realize how rarely I would be away from my bike when it was outside during that trip.

I carry a couple of inexpensive and very light cable locks. They're a deterent to the "Grab and ride thief of opportunity". I can join the two locks and wrap them around a concrete pillar. Seeing that MOST bicycle thefts are crimes of opportunity wherein the bicycle was not locked, it behooves one to a least lock the bike. If you're unlucky enough to meet a dedicated bicycle thief then no lock is going to save your bike. There's a way to defeat almost any lock in less than a minute. I'm not posting how that works but it's simple and doesn't require any special tools.

The guy riding across Canada who had his bicycle stolen in Montreal would probably still have the bike if he'd used even a cheap cable lock on it.

BTW, make sure you lock your bike TO something otherwise it can be picked up and carried away or put into a vehicle.

In my opinion, not locking a bicycle is playing a form of Russian roulette.

Cheers

The one time I didn't lock my bike here some teenagers decided to take it for a joy ride. I was annoyed, but glad they didn't just steal the thing.

In DC the pro sports teams seem to rely esp heavily on corporate-entertainment budgets (yet another form of subsidy). Went to a Redskins game in corporate sky-box--most of the others in the box were barely paying attention to the game but instead were chatting/networking & scarfing up the free food. One guy from my company was a big football fan but was into gambling so he kept watching the tv's inside the box vs watching the game outside.

I always like going to pro cycling races though. Watching the racers can be instructive on technique & quite inspiring to ride a bit harder & keep healthier habits. Haven't personally attended TDF--logistics & costs are quite difficult. Richmond2015 AFAIK had significant city subsidies, IIRC they paid about half of the ~$20 million cost. Sure, it worked as an image builder for RVA but one wonders about actual marketing payoff. Most attendees were die-hard bikers/fans--the only casual fans were some (not large #) of the locals. Most RVA citizens probably considered 2015 races as an expensive nuisance. It's like at the Redskins games--local residents are near trapped in their neighborhoods during home games.

How did you work that? Sure, tourists can usually go to small stores or restaurants where bike is still visible but I'd have thought that on cross-continent trip one would sometimes have to lock bike while going inside supermarkets etc. All about playing the odds? I'd guess bike theft rates vary 50 or 100x from the worst areas to the safest.

It will vary with the route, where you choose to stop, and other factors, but... There will be a few places on most tours where I wouldn't want to leave my bike outside even if it were locked. Since I try to mostly avoid bigger towns and cities that isn't too often. Sometimes the answer is to wheel the bike up and down the aisles of the store, sometimes asking to park inside near the registers. On occasion I have asked to leave my bike at a bike shop or other business while I walked around doing my errands.

Also if I stay in a big city I am more likely that usual to either be staying with a host or getting a room.

The other mitigating factor is that I tend to not use equipment or bikes that I couldn't afford to replace.

That's my kind of sports...Sitting inside, eating and not watching the game : )

I wanted to go to Richmond but was busy and then forgot about it. Ah well. I saw parts of it on T.V. with a cycling friend. I generally prefer watching Eddy Merckx to the modern folks though.
Glad I didn't go knowing the cities cost and no real payout. I guess I should have figured that. I knew it would mostly be cycling nerds like us but I have to think there was a good portion of locals. I mean you do get to see somethings you probably won't see from the guy biking home from work (I know today going up a long long hill in some serious headwinds I was slow as molasses) and people come out for spectacles like that.

I know these Hiplock Z-Lok Security Ties have been mentioned before. They look interesting to me at least in the first instance, particularly for quick stops at shops etc. Hence I am curious as to what folks experiences are of them if any now they have been around for awhile.

http://road.cc/sites/default/files/s...?itok=7hgnvVtE

I have a number of these and use them fairly frequently. They work pretty well. Primarily I use them on my hitch bike rack for when I’m getting gas or running into a convenience store. I have carried them for quick stops on bike rides and they work pretty well for that but they are primarily going to be useful to disable the bike.

Problems I’ve had were with the very early version’s keys. They can be delicate and you have to be careful to finesse the key when unlocking. Don’t force it or you can bend the little prongs on the key. The metal is fairly brittle and won’t withstand repeated bending and the key will break.

J.

For a quick run into the store I use a small lock like skiers often use. Not very secure, but for a quick run into a restaurant or something like that I prefer the convenience over a bigger lock. I still use the bigger lock for campsites, etc.

Thanks. My planned usage was really as something to disable the bike whilst I go shopping etc when out touring.

They’ll work for that. Buy two sets so you have an extra key. Stupidly, they only come with one key per set.