How vigilant are you about your bicycle security?

[jefmcg]

Once went to get my (10 year old) bike from where I'd D-locked it to a sheffield stand, to find that I'd somehow missed the stand entirely and my lock was just through the frame and not the stand at all.

Luckily it apparently fooled passers-by, as it was unmolested after an hour just sitting there.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I use £60 worth of abus d-lock and chain for my £200 hybrid and always use both of them even if I'm only nipping into a shop for five minutes. Some days I spend more time locking and unlocking than I do riding the damn thing. My road bike is locked using my boyfriend's kryptonite d-lock and an abus cable, probably about another £50-60 worth of lockage.

 

[Saluki]

We lock ours, even if just popping into the loo or whatever. I really don't want to lose my bike, I am very fond of it. Its easier when both of us are out. I'll pop to the loo while the OH has the bikes and vice versa.
Today, my hubby put the lock on the bike as we were going to chat with the local council and we got all the way there (17 miles) and he discovered that he had forgotten the keys for the lock. He sat outside with the bikes, I went in. Happily he checked for the keys before he locked the bikes up.

 

[CopperCyclist]

There's someone at work that religiously locks their bike to the stands, with a reasonably heavy duty cable lock.

Only problem is he/she locks it only through a single spoke in the front wheel!!!

 

[Teuchter]

In the past I was relatively lax... I'd always lock my bikes if unattended but had no illusions over the quality of the cheap cable locks I was using. When I got my new Specialized Allez last year, I invested in a decent Kryptonite D-lock.

About locking in publicly visible places... yes it's a good idea but not sure how much difference it would really make. A few years ago I locked my bike at lunchtime in the middle of the very busy pedestrianised area of Glasgow's Argyle Street (one of Glasgow's main shopping streets). Came back later to find someone else had locked their BSO to the other side of the stand but had also locked my top tube with their lock. I needed to get back to work and there was no sign of the bike's owner so I used the wire cutters on my leatherman to chew through the (luckily cheap) cable lock. I had the lock off and my bike freed in no time. None of the passers by even spared me a second glance.

I did loop the cut lock to look like it was still locked to deter any thieves from nicking the supermarket mountain bike before I left.

 

[citybabe]

I always lock my bike altho it didn't stop the b$stards cutting through my Kryptonite cable lock and stealing it last month

 

[guitarpete247]

I usually take the front q/r wheel out and lock it, with the frame and rear wheel, to something solid if I'm going to be gone any length of time. I also try to leave it in a place where passers by will see someone tampering with the lock. I'd hope that if someone did see something untoward occurring they would report it or at least take note of description of miscreant. (Expecting too much I know ).
When I went out with local cycling group on Sunday I leant mine up at the back of a bunch of £1000+, carbon bikes, knowing that with the number of cyclists around the cafe anyone, not a cyclist, would be spotted and mine would be the last one to be stolen.

 

[Saluki]

I always lock my bike altho it didn't stop the b$stards cutting through my Kryptonite cable lock and stealing it last month

Where did you park it? I often park in Norwich and want to know where to avoid.
I usually stuff my bike in the bike park at Duke Street Car Park, in the bike cage place. Never had a problem there, but sometimes I have to lock it somewhere else if its full.

So sorry your bike was nicked. I've had several bikes nicked in the Norwich area in the past. One from outside my front door, locked to the wall O ring. that really annoyed me. Pretty good idea of who it was too.

 

[e-rider]

after having 4 bikes stolen over the last 20 years, I never let mine out of my sight even for a second, and even double lock my cheap commuter at the local shop - my best bikes NEVER get locked anywhere, not even for a minute.
I too have noticed how people are happy to leave very expensive bikes unattended at coffee stops on club runs - clearly these people have never had a bike stolen, but they will soon enough unfortunately!

 

[e-rider]

Where did you park it? I often park in Norwich and want to know where to avoid.
I usually stuff my bike in the bike park at Duke Street Car Park, in the bike cage place. Never had a problem there, but sometimes I have to lock it somewhere else if its full.

So sorry your bike was nicked. I've had several bikes nicked in the Norwich area in the past. One from outside my front door, locked to the wall O ring. that really annoyed me. Pretty good idea of who it was too.

I've had one attempted theft (at UEA - beaten up lock), one bike stolen (NR5) and my rear wheel smashed up outside Delanys Pub in Norwich!

 

[citybabe]

Where did you park it? I often park in Norwich and want to know where to avoid.

It was stolen from Brighton seafront. Went there for a long weekend, took my bike with me and locked it up along the seafront with all the hundreds of other bikes. Went into town for something to eat and when I got back the bike was gone

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

After my bike got stolen (and luckily for me, recovered) I've been a lot more paranoid. Like others who have responded even if I'm going in a shop for five minutes I'll still take my lights off and lock it up. It's not the most expensive bike in the world but that doesn't mean some scumbag is entitled to it.

 

[Herr-B]

Been looking at Bordo Granit X reviews today, anything better out there for the money?

 

[Silver Fox]

Up until last November my bike used to live in the garage. I'm very aware of who's around when I'm putting the bike away but just once I let my guard down. The next morning I discovered some thieving scum turd had burst open the garage door and knicked the bike..

These days my bike lives in the flat. I transport the bike on the roof of my car and am very conscious of who's following me, especially when I get nearer home. If I suspect I'm being tailed I'll pull over.

 

[e-rider]

Been looking at Bordo Granit X reviews today, anything better out there for the money?

Kryptonite M18 might be worth a look