Bike thieves!

[peregrinehill.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

Just a heads up, bike thieves with bolt-cutters are lurking around Teele Square, I guess in celebration of Bike Week. So take 'em indoors. We lost two bikes last night.

EDIT:
The stolen bikes were 1) a black 700c Marin Kentfield women's bike with a basket and a squirrel eaten seat and 2) a red 26" men's Schwinn Ranger mountain bike.

Comments

Good time to post...

[jimmyfergus.livejournal.com]

Sheldon Brown's lock strategy article: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

Most people's U-locks are too big (and therefore heavy). A small one through the rear wheel is the way to go, with a cable for other sundry items.

Re: Good time to post...

[peregrinehill.livejournal.com]

I was using a stranded cable lock, but now I wish I'd used a U-lock, too.

Re: Good time to post...

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

Enh. I've had a bike stolen when locked with a u-lock. Don't blame yourself. Sorry to hear about the theft.

Re: Good time to post...

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

This.

Multiple U-Locks is the best really. Theives will move on, unless you have something really nice and are targeted by the pros.

Re: Good time to post...

[jimmyfergus.livejournal.com]

I'll expand a bit. I just bought this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FL3E9I

The lock is 3.5x5.5", which is really quite small. Still good enough to lock your rear wheel to a pole (read Sheldon's text for why you don't need it around the frame). Lighter than the big 9" locks, and harder to break by inserting a lever inside the U.

Some reviews complained the cable was too short. I think they were using it wrong; it's 4ft long! You don't need it in a big O loop, you just run the end round the front wheel rim and thread the cable through its own end loop, then run the cable through your saddle or whatever, and the other end loop attaches to the u-lock.

No lock is impenetrable, and if you're leaving a bike out overnight go for at least two different types of locks so they need more than one tool. A thin cable like this is only minimal deterrent. Perhaps 2 small U-locks - one rear-wheel-to-pole, other frame-to-front-wheel.