What are the best anti-theft tricks around?

spline72

Hi there, i have always been a bit worried about my bikes getting stolen so most of the time it sits in my desk space in my office.

I have had my GT LTS almost stolen twice, the first time i left it D locked in oxford street, probably one of the most busy streets in the world, i came back to find it vandalized, someone could not get the lock off so kicked in the disc rotor which i didnt notice until half a revolution of the front wheel, it bent the disc tabs on the front fork. I was not a happy bunny i can tell you.

The second time it almost got stolen was outside my office in london , it was locked to some railings and i came out to find a one tonn car juck between my D lock and the rear end with some smacked out KIWI who was squating in the building next door winding the car jack to pop the lock!

i went back into the office called the old bill and it eventually ended up with him getting deported! thats one less piece of scum in the country!

but the way the D lock i bought 9 years ago when i bought the LTS new, best thing i bought for the bike ever!

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if its GT LTS i am interested in it

motorex259

why not just make anywhere metal eletric.

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LET MY PEOPLE RIDE, AND GET FREE STUFF!!!!

n2t

I use a 1.97 chain lock, I could probably pull it off by hand but sofar it hasn't been an issue. I try to keep it in sight at all times, and hope noone likes the GMC denalies. The bad news, druggies don't care what stickers are on it, they ususaly can't tell a good bike from a bad one, the good news, noone from this forum would touch it with a 10' pole. Btw, idk about the poisonous snake idea, never heard of a poisonous snake and don't think any actualy exist so that may be hard. Toads are poisonous but I don't know how big of a deturant a toad on your bike would be, would be rather cute though...

Garyh_GONP07

In 29 years of cycling, I've had some great bikes, and this latest one, a GIANT Talon is by far the snazziest and "very stealable". So, I take it with me if I have to go into a building and I can't then I simply don't go into that building or shop, fact. Most outdoor shops (where many staff are active bikers) and many businesses will accept you taking your bike just inside the door where you can monitor it if it doesn't impede customers or threaten stock. Of course, no guarantee somebody is waiting outside to dash in and knick it, but it would make them more nervous given they don't know where the owner is inside!! This new bike is never out of my sight inside when I'm shopping about.

Outside, locking an expensive tricked-up MTB or any bike outside in a public place is just begging for trouble. If you must, invest in the most brutal locking device you can afford (one is good, two is best!) and lock the frame, both wheels and remove gadgets like cyclecomputers, pumps, biddons and helmets. Leaving stuff on the bike only tempts fate.

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I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like."
—Freddie Mercury, 'Bicycle Race'

still ridin'

a smith & wesson 40 caliber . . . . . it's very lite but does the job . . . . .j.k., of course . . . . .

Slick Rick

Ive got a big cable lock for the frame and rear wheel(Its big enough to use for a motorbike) and weighs about 2-3kg and then I have a cheap U-Lock for the front wheel which is about 1kg.
So Ive got to drag around 4kg around whenever I want to pop to the shops or leave the bike somewhere without worrying too much.

You cant win really, its just a big downside to owning a nice bike

orfeoc

I had a bike stolen years ago when i stupidly gota a flat tire and left it locked up to a pole for one day to many, when i went back to collect it i find out the pole wasn't even secured to the ground ! idiot! anyway once bitten twice shy.

Now i ride an old beat up treak 970 which is surprisingly good for how old it is, and i lock it with a big heavy chain by BikeGuard ( http://www.bikeguardlocks.com/chains/megalink_3600.php ) . I'm under the impression that these locks are pretty un breakable but from what Ny Cykel and Archibald said it sounds like they can be cut with rechargable dremmles or angle grinders. Is this right? or are they just referring to the kryptonite locks?

I'm dreaming of upgrading to a trek 7.7fx so i guess when i do that i shouldn't lock it up if all the above is true, hopefully by that stage i'll be working indoors somewhere where i can lock it up.

orfeo

ps: here in australia i know guys who deal in stolen bikes and the going price is about $150 ($100US) so there's really no limit to what they're prepared to steal, i think it more comes down to how easy it is to steal

1Easyrider

And don't forget to leave the bike in the bottom gear. It's not easy to start pedalling from a standing start when the bike's in Gear 27, that'll give you enough time to run out and drag him off!

jimmybrick

I had my claude butler zenith pinched 8 years ago i saved 2 years of paper round money just to buy it and it was stolen 2 weeks later i was a broken child and refused to ever own a decent bike again however I now own a KONA coiler 07 I chai it in the shed chained to a old bed stead and chained to my sisters bike which is chained to the lawn mower and a chain running through hers and my front wheel and attached to a static tool box and the shed has a combo alarm fitted and the dog kennal is right next to it so if you can take my nike without waking me or the familly or the dog or the neighbours you can have it freely because when you leave i will have you on cctv and the insurance company will pay out no questions asked

1Easyrider

How Sad. By the time you've unchained the thing it's time to chain it back up again!

Just get a decent insurance policy and enjoy your cycling.

Trailer Boy

A good chain and take your seat with you....If someone really want your bike they will just get some bolt cutters...but if your bike looks unattractive...(no seat) ...then a potential thif may nick one with a seat

chilln

Hi all (new here)

Don't know if this is the best, but this is what I did:

I hate the hassle of taking the "quick release" front wheel off every time I lock the bike up somewhere (short term) or going to the extra hassle of locking it up too every time.

Converting to standard nuts is not do-able.

So I figured out that if I replaced the allen head screw holding the disc brake on with a "homemade" thumb screw with a hole drilled in it I could put a small 1'' case hardened padlock through the opening in the quick release lever and the thumb screw hole, which then locks the wheel on the bike at all times. (I had to make my own thumb screw out of a metric bolt, because there are no metric thumb screws available)

rtd131

The best things you can do are to loosen up your quick releases (and lock up your bike). Anyone trying to make a quick getaway will just fall off the bike.
And if your in the city, take your wheels with you. Anyone will probably try to say something to the cop on the corner when a guy is trying to run away with a bike with no wheels.

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Giant all the way