I can not leave my bike anywhere. I can’t let it leave my sight. Is that bad? I think this is happening for several reasons. First of all, I have put too much time and money into the bike to let it slip away. Secondly, it’s because I don’t know if I’ll come back and some compenet will be gone. I know that I could take any compenent I would want within 5 minutes max. What can we do about this. Are there any places to store a bike that is safe at all. I live in Tempe, AZ and go to ASU… know of any places???
keep your nice bike in your room/ indoors where you live somewhere - get a second beater bike that you don’t care about as much to lock up as a means of transport - dont ride a nice quality race bike around just to get to the store etc. Your right that you can steal any part of a bike in no time at all - I lock both wheels and have a $5 saddle etc on my beater. (though the bike is actually a $1000+ 853 beauty diguised to look like a beater - actually may be my favorite one but sssshhhh)
I went to ASU, and still tool around Tempe on my singlespeed sometimes:
Get a badass lock…one of those ones that dent the cement when you drop it…I use the Kryptonite NY lock…I’ve dropped on my foot before…that thing’s a tank
Get a nondescript bike…nowadays, that means a road bike. Just not a nice road bike…in fact, a single speed or fixed gear seems to be a great deterrent here and elsewhere. Something used can be had quite cheaply if you look enough…I spent all of $75 on my first campus beater, a mid-80’s pink Univega converted to single-speed…and I think that included the lock.
Know how to lock up your bike. Take away the leverage points that a thief might employ, where in your frame/bike that the thief can’t cut/remove a easily removed component to steal the rest of bike
Know where to lock up your bike. I prefer high-traffic areas without many other bikes/racks…so sometimes I don’t use the ubiquitous racks scattered around Tempe. If you do use a sign though, make sure that’s not a flimsy one, and that the thief can’t just lift the whole bike over the sign. Well lit is good as well, if you’re going to be leaving it when its dark.
Just be aware that if a thief wants your bike enough, you’ll probably NOT be able to deter him/her…I’m sure there are more methods of liberating a bike from its rightful owner than I am remotely aware of, but I’ve been pretty successful with the combination of the above methods. Knock on wood, right?
lactate
sorry to say, I completely disagree with you
if someone wants your bike, they will get it regardless of how many of the NY Kryptonite locks you have on it
my first mountain got stolen in NYC with a NY Kryptonite lock
got the lock replaced, but had to buy a new bike
i have a road bike too, that stays at home, never to be locked up outside
and as for the mountain, it is still in great shape and looks great, but I take the front wheel and seat with me… that is my deterence and so far so good
Funny, I was just pondering this issue today, as I am thinking about re-locating to Monterey, California to attend school there. If I do, I want to live a few miles out of town for the lower rents and so I can commute as one form of exercise, but I’m afraid the campus won’t be safe for Ultegra-equipped (or better) road bikes.
I like the idea of a nice 853 frame, but spray painted four ways of ugly. I’ve got one such frame I could slap some hybrid 105/Ultegra on. But would people go around stealing whatever they could strip off it if I left it outside?
I’ve heard of people who fill the hex bolt heads with silicone or some other such sealant. It’s easy enough to pry out when you need to wrench it, but yet another hassle for a wandering theif with a set of hex keys.
I figure small-platform clipless pedals might help too, as it’s harder to ride away in running shoes on a Coombe/Speedplay/Bebop equipped bike than one with cages and straps, Keywins, or the new “Lance pedals”.
A fixie is also a decent deterrent, as is a (purposely) horrible home paint job. For extra effect, wrap parts of the frame with masking tape first, for a nice “peeling”.