Oh NO

[pegkerr]

A locked bicycle was stolen from the same rack where I park my bike every day at work. My bike was parked there on Wednesday when it happened.

I suppose it's some comfort that my bike wasn't the thief's first choice. But still.

Comments

[90-percent-sure.livejournal.com]

Happens all the time. You are better off riding a POS than anything else. And doesn't matter where--our bike rack is filmed by our security and USBank across the street. They have it all on video; those midday bike thefts in plain sight.

And at the government center? That's the bike rack where you see cable locks cut in half, laying on the ground, bike long gone.

Use a U-Lock, take seat with you, ride a POS. That's the word from our bike commuting team.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I second the advice about taking your bike seat with you. I had one stolen off of the mountain bike I had some time ago.

[avengangle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my secret was always to ride an awful bicycle. I'm still riding racing bikes when everyone else has switched to mountain bikes, because racing bikes they practically give away free.

But that may not be an option. Good luck.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

The standard advice on avoiding bike theft is "Always park your bike next to a better bike with a cheaper lock."

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

What's a POS? *ignorant*

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Ah. The penny drops. Never mind.

I don't think my bike would be that tempting; it is about thirty years old.

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

That's a neat idea - take part of the bike with you.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I suppose you can't take the bike inside with you? I know it wouldn't be practical in my office (though if they hadn't redone the office a few years back and made everyone's cubicles smaller by two feet, it could've been done).

[joelrosenberg.livejournal.com]

And avoid any bike lock that can be defeated with a Bic pen -- like the (old, possibly?) Kryptonite ones.

That said, dreamshark's advice is good. Given that pretty much any lock can be easily defeated with the right tools, it's best just to encourage the thieves to go on to the next bike . . . and, most of the time, that'll work.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Now I'm doubly appreciative that our company has a locked bike storage room, accessibly only via keycard, *right* behind the garage security guard. I hope your trusty steed stays safe!

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Wow. What a great perk.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, I had one of those old Kryptonite locks--I even still had the key after twenty years! When I hauled the bike out of the basement and dusted it off and got it tuned up, I got a new lock for that very reason.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Bikes aren't allowed in the office or building elevators. But 90_percent_sure suggested taking the seat with me. I'll check to see how easy it is to do that.

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

I have to admit parking next to a bike that's worth more/easier to steal is great advice.

I'm just going to add that the Metro Transit company(you know, the annoying bus folks) used to have bike lockers scattered around downtown which you could sign up for I don't know if they still do but I think so.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

One of the commandments of riding in a bike-theft-prone area is to always lock up your bike near one that looks more expensive than yours.
There are people on bike forums that buy nice bikes then paint them flat black, bang them up and put ugly-assed stickers all over them. They still ride great but they look like crap, and they're less likely to get stolen.

BTW, an alternative to taking your bike seat is to replace the quick release with a regular bolt. Idiots will sometimes take a seat just because it takes 5 seconds and they're jerks, but if you put a bolt in it it makes them have to work at it.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

If your seat is secured with a bolt, it's probably not a problem. Most seats these days have quick release cams for easy adjustment, and that means it takes 5 seconds to steal it. However, easy adjustment is pointless for commuters; I haven't moved my seat in years.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't speak for any would-be bike thiefs, but I certainly wouldn't want to ride without the seat. I'm fond of comfort, I am. =)