I left a month ago for a bike trip that is now over 2,000 miles long and still going. I don't have a bike lock with me. I'm currently inside a McDonalds surfing the web and my bike is outside...I'm in Quincy, IL right now. I'm not worried about my bike. I was up around Chicago over the weekend. Yes, I'm still alive even though anybody that steps foot around Chicago is going to get killed.

First thing...watch where you go. Be smart about choosing your locations of where to ride. Don't follow standard bike paths...Trans Am, Katy Trail, etc. Go where people don't normally see much in the way of bikers. Things they do normally have the chance to think of ways to unload they aren't going to get after them.

Secondly, as mentioned before when you go inside make sure you can watch your bike...especially if you are in a location that has a lot of foot traffic. Normally, I don't think a thing about where my bike is parked. I don't even keep it within eye sight. Right now, because of the town I'm in...it's a different story. Learn to read where you are at and prep accordingly. Do you have a good feeling about the people you are around or don't you trust them as far as you could throw them. If you don't trust them...keep moving until you find a place that you feel more like you can trust the people.

Third, stay around smaller towns. Bigger cities will provide bigger troubles for you. I didn't go inside Chicago but I was all through the outlying suburbs of Chicago. I never feared a second for my safety. Now there was a point earlier on in the trip while in Baltimore that I wanted to get the heck out of the area.

Learn to be smart. That's your cheapest and best bike lock you will ever own.

A combo of a light cable lock with a motion activated alarm seems like a good solution.

Terrier #8061 ? OnGuard Locks

Amazon.com: SE-0304OR Bag Protector Alert. Orange/White: Home Improvement

Also there are some simple ways that you can make it difficult for a thief to ride your bike away

How To Lock Your Bike - Secure Your Bicycle From Thieves - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZUqESyVUxc

While those are doubtless great, you can just get the allen ones. Most thieves probably aren't carrying allen keys around with them, as far as I know. Plus they are a significant upgrade over the quick releases, though I would prefer no skewer at all. 9 bucks:



Though for 20 you can go to security type:



Whether the additional security of having that type of bolt is worth the additional risk of ending up locked out of your hub, is something I would have to consider.

This is the thinner Tigr but is the the bigger one that much better?


...but to fair in how many places do bike thieves walk around with bolt cutters that size?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb8YoT9Q9VA

I know they intended it to be pronounced "Tiger," but every time I see that stupid name, my mind pronounces it as "Tigger," as in Winnie the Pooh's friend. And we all know Tigger would be worthless for security.

What is your source for the Great White Shark leader? Coastal pro fishing supply house?

I think I got it right from the manufacturer , Malin Wire & Cable.

I too went to the hardware store and got 10 feet* of light steel cable with plastic coating, and some aluminum ferrule pieces,

made for the purpose I hammered shut forming the loops..

*So as to reach around trees and such, camping, beyond the span of the more impressive thicker cable that gets street use.

Stupid (??) question about the DIY cables, if you hammer the ferrules closed yourself wouldn't it be pretty easy for a thief to hammer them open?Wouldn't that be a lot easier than cutting the cable?

Is it possible to get a machine (or similar) shop to more securely close the cable loops?