Bike stolen at sportive registration by thief dressed as cyclist

[fossyant]

Just to mention, Tesco are selling a retractable Yale Mini lock with alarm for a shade under £15.

I know it's going to take up some valuable pocket space (for food) on a sportive, but worth it.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/yale-lock-alarm-mini/209-7204.prd

 

[Rob3rt]

I did wonder about these things. I turn up to these sportives with my £150 MTB and park it next to hundreds of very expensive road bikes all unlocked just ripe to take home,
its only cos' I could never live with myself that I don't just help myself to anyone of those fine steeds,
I'm sorry it been taken,
but do wonder how much these bikes are worth to people, to leave it unattended and unlocked!

They are worth more than you could imagine to people but there are just times or situations where it isn't the norm to lock your bike up, it is a rather odd scenario to be in and I find it uncomfortable at times, I just try to keep my bike within line of sight.

 

[Herbie]

Perhaps a letter to the organisers to redesign the registration area to allow the riders taking part to actually keep their bikes with them through the process.

Hard luck mister. I know you pain

Good idea

 

[Rob3rt]

To add to the above:

If my bike went, it wouldn't be a case of "oh shoot, there goes £xxxx and the fuss of a claim" it would have a MASSIVE impact on my life, I ride to get around, for leisure, I race as a hobby (and take it seriously), to socialise and spend time with people, ALL of my friends and many of their partners are cyclists, pretty much all of my none work time is related to cycling somehow, either in the shape of riding a bike or through some activity to complement cycling, the people I will be with etc. Yet I don't own a lock! Go figure, it makes sense to have a lock and always lock your bike up, except when it doesn't!

I have NEVER seen a bike locked up at a time trial or hill climb, I am sure the same thing goes on at road races and crits too. It is common on club rides to just pile the bikes up too.

 

[Herbie]

Its bad enough having your bike nicked without people here rubbing it in

How about a bit of sympathy here everyone..it is the thief who is the twat, not the victim !

Absolutely.....I'd be well and truly gutted

 

[User169]

Really bad luck to the OP. Seems to be quite widespread - I met someone whose bike got stolen at the registration for the Liege Bastogne Liege sportif.

 

[Hip Priest]

To add to the above:

If my bike went, it wouldn't be a case of "oh s***, there goes £xxxx and the fuss of a claim" it would have a MASSIVE impact on my life, I ride to get around, for leisure, I race as a hobby (and take it seriously), to socialise and spend time with people, ALL of my friends and many of their partners are cyclists, pretty much all of my none work time is related to cycling somehow, either in the shape of riding a bike or through some activity to complement cycling, the people I will be with etc. Yet I don't own a lock! Go figure, it makes sense to have a lock and always lock your bike up, except when it doesn't!

I have NEVER seen a bike locked up at a time trial or hill climb, I am sure the same thing goes on at road races and crits too. It is common on club rides to just pile the bikes up too.

Yep.

I lock my bike up at work or at the shops, but on clubs runs we just leave all the bikes outside the cafe. It does worry me, but I try not to think about it.

 

[ianrauk]

There is no reason what so ever not carry a small retractable cafe lock as @Banjo said previous. Small enough to fit in a jersey pocket and light enough for any weight weenies. It's something rather then nothing.

 

[ianrauk]

Yep.

I lock my bike up at work or at the shops, but on clubs runs we just leave all the bikes outside the cafe. It does worry me, but I try not to think about it.

Then lock it up.

 

[Beebo]

Sorry for your loss.
I'm sure most of us have left our bikes unlocked in a group at some time or another.
You want to make your bike less easy to steal than someone elses. I have a small retractable cable lock, about the size of my mobile phone, I could be cut with basic cable cutters but if my bike is locked they will hopefully take someone elses bike.
If you dont want to carry a lock then why not try removing the front wheel or saddle at the next sportive registration?

 

[Trickedem]

Sorry to hear about your bike and I hope you are reunited. I am paranoid about some scrote stealing mine, so always lock it even if I am close by. I use one of these http://www.evanscycles.com/products/abus/combination-lock-1150-ec006190 As others have said you only need to have better security than some of the other bikes nearby.

 

[Pale Rider]

Turn the bike upside down.

The thief will think it's broken.

 

[LimeBurn]

Feel for you. I'd be gutted.

 

[John Shingler]

A clever idea is to keep one of the tyres flat. Makes it too much bother to take.

or take the frame off ....

 

[John Shingler]

The organisers were apologetic, but what could they do, really? They gave me my £20 entry fee back..

they need to address it, even if it is only to tell people to lock their bikes up when left.