Push bike security

[Ade Sundog]

Hello there

I'm using my bike more these days , to get around on , instead of just 'going for a ride' , and on my rare visits to town , i'd like to ride there . But i'm paranoid about having my bike nicked . I've got a bike lock , but it would be no problem to a determined thief. I've also got a thick chain with a big padlock , but wieghs a ton . So, has anyone got any ideas or thoughts on cycle security?
Thanx in advance
ade

[DJ Droood]

Hello there

I'm using my bike more these days , to get around on , instead of just 'going for a ride' , and on my rare visits to town , i'd like to ride there . But i'm paranoid about having my bike nicked . I've got a bike lock , but it would be no problem to a determined thief. I've also got a thick chain with a big padlock , but wieghs a ton . So, has anyone got any ideas or thoughts on cycle security?
Thanx in advance
ade

I've had a couple of bikes stolen..other than the lock, maybe take the seat off and take it with you, if you can....lock it to something secure...I would also suggest using a serviceable but relatively cheap bike.

[Corwen]

Sadly pretty much any kind of lock can be defeated, but I'm told often thieves carry equipment to deal with just one sort of lock, so if I'm leaving my bike anywhere risky I try to use more than one type, a heavy D-lock or chain and padlock along with a couple of cable locks which don't weigh much, sometimes all three. Lock it somewhere in plain sight, when I commuted I locked mine to railings in front of the station rather than in the station bike rack which was tucked away. All this makes your bike less attractive compared top the one next to it only locked with one lock in a hidden away location. You can try wrapping your bike with tape so it looks unattractive and unsaleable and conceals any expensive brand names, having it marked with your postcode by the police, taking bits with you (wheels and saddle on quick release), or better still use a folding bike in town and take it everywhere with you...

[Magrathea]

Up until now, I've been fortunate enough to park my bike inside the building I work. ( although on one occasion this still wasn't enough as someone came in and stole my colleagues bike!!!).
If I'm off on a ride, well my bike is with me all the time. I too am paranoid about leaving my bike alone on the city streets and simply use common peoples transport if I'm visiting the city.
Taking the seat with you is the obvious deterrent, and taking the wheel around with you is impractical. How about asking the police if you can use there back yard? after all you are paying for it...hmmmm
I like DJ's idea of using a rusty boneshaker though

[DJ Droood]

I have seen systems of "rent-a-bikes" in a couple of cities where people seem to get on a bike at point A and drop it off at point B...how do those systems work? What is their loss prevention strategy?

[Jalking]

I have seen systems of "rent-a-bikes" in a couple of cities where people seem to get on a bike at point A and drop it off at point B...how do those systems work? What is their loss prevention strategy?

I know that in Copenhagen they mark the free bikes with a GPS chip. That way they can track the bikes, and have their people pick them up.

I have a similar system on my racing bike, a GPS tracker that is located inside the frame and allow me to track it down if stolen. This doesn't prevent the bike from getting stolen, but make sure that you have a decent chance to find it if you have that misfortune.

My commuter bike is driving well, but look like nothing worth stealing. so far it have worked fine.

Regards
Jalking

[Teileag]

This is how it works in Brussels: http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4359! I've never tried it out but I can see a stand from where I work. Many people use the bikes and workers from "Villo" swop the bikes around so there's always enough available...

[Bracken]

Hi Ade. Build yourself a bike that does exactly what you want it to do while looking butt ugly at the same time. Then nobody will want to nick it. I got away with that for years with just a d-lock. Of course, that doesn't stop piss heads jumping on it but nothing lasts forever. Take sensible precautions, then stop worrying about it.

[Badger Bob]

My bike is a Mercian custom build but is so old and "well used" it looks like it has spent a lifetime at the bottom of a swamp. I have seen cheap shiny Halfords junk stolen in preference to my unnamed scrappy steed, which just goes to prove that thieves have no taste. My friend has an expensive bike that he has deliberately "distressed" with football stickers, mismatched paintwork and fake tube welds to make it look like a cut'n'shut. I just hope it never becomes a fashion trend!

[Ade Sundog]

Thanx for all your replies. Sound stuff.

[Golden Eagle]

Park it somewhere well-lit, in public view.

Two locks: One D-lock to go through the frame and one wheel, and then a cable-lock to go through the frame and the other wheel. Especially vital if you have quick-release wheels! General consensus is that most bike thieves will only carry tools to break one type of lock.

As Jalking said, a little GPS security chip which can be tracked by the police is worth investing in, if your bike's expensive enough to worry about (I assume it is, from your post.)

If you have a quick-release saddle post, it's also pretty much essential to get a little cable which you can loop round the saddle fixing point to lock the saddle to the frame, to stop people just walking off with it! (see attachment)

[Ainevar]

What I often do is if possibale putit where you can easily see it if in a store or library. I have on numerous occasions when going and chilin with my barber at his barber shop and left the trike right in front of the window and that is the only place I'd leave it unlocked is where I am a max of 20ft from it. When I lock it up I twist the hell outta the lock and make it almost impossiable to really touch and I put the bike itself in weird spots so it's to much of a hassle for most thiefs. I have actually had people come up to me while I was on it and demand the bike. It's pathetic really.

[Ade Sundog]

Ironically ( is that a word?) i had my bike stolen from my house! hahaha , the thieves made light of awl my security arrangements. The insurance replaced it, really quickly, and i now have some better security than i had before, i hope , fingers x'd. And i have an olde klunker to ride about on doing errands etc , which cost me next to nothing ( i've painted it matt black , like Lemmy would , to scare people off )

[DaRC]

I have one word - Krytonite : http://www.kryptonitelock.com/Pages/default.aspx They pride themselves on it & locked a very expensive bike somewhere very dodgy to prove their locks work.

For fixing within a shed / house then concrete a ring into the wall / floor to attach the bike to it.

I have <ahem> a few bikes but fortunately have a secure brick outhouse & live in a quiet area.
For urban riding ditch the MTB shape and go for an old road bike with mudguards (you can put flat handle bars on it & change the stem to make it more comfortable / upright) so it's less attractive to thieves.
My rat (aka down the shops) bike is quite boutique if you can see past the grime, rusty bits and scabby mudguards.