rampant bike thieves
Sep. 8th, 2008 11:30 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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There are some serious bike thieves on or around Willow Avenue.
After parking my bike in front of the house for a year, nothing happened until last week, when someone stole my wheel. It was an old Trek, and time for an upgrade anyway, but still really annoying.
So then I got a newer bike from Craigslist. I bought a cable, which I've wrapped through my wheels in addition to the U Lock I was already using. At night I brought the bike inside EVERY night but Saturday. Saturday the downpour was so bad, and I was busy, so I flaked on bringing the bike inside.
Sunday I was ready to ride my bike to the Union Square flea market, only to discover that the seat was missing.
I understand now that I will ALWAYS have to park my bike inside at night. But I find it ironic that after living on Columbia St. in Cambridge for 4 years (an area where people shook their heads in dismay upon me telling them I lived "across from the projects"), the worst theft has happened right here on friendly Willow.
After parking my bike in front of the house for a year, nothing happened until last week, when someone stole my wheel. It was an old Trek, and time for an upgrade anyway, but still really annoying.
So then I got a newer bike from Craigslist. I bought a cable, which I've wrapped through my wheels in addition to the U Lock I was already using. At night I brought the bike inside EVERY night but Saturday. Saturday the downpour was so bad, and I was busy, so I flaked on bringing the bike inside.
Sunday I was ready to ride my bike to the Union Square flea market, only to discover that the seat was missing.
I understand now that I will ALWAYS have to park my bike inside at night. But I find it ironic that after living on Columbia St. in Cambridge for 4 years (an area where people shook their heads in dismay upon me telling them I lived "across from the projects"), the worst theft has happened right here on friendly Willow.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-08 07:39 pm (UTC)Then you don't have to mess with it to have it be secured.
Also make your bike look as crappy as possible. Lots of stickers, wierd paint job, and include a piece of paper with your name/phone number in each of the wheels (so that if you get a flat and they take it to a shop, they will call you -- because they will have your number when they pull the tube out.)
no subject
Date: 2008-09-08 08:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-09 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-09 06:44 pm (UTC)Hell, I know how to do it, but sometimes I'd just rather not be bothered, or sometimes don't carry a patch kit, and tools at all times, or sometimes am just plumb lazy, and sometimes I want to support my local economy... (inevitably I will also buy tons of other bike crap when I'm there)