This blogpost from the usually great Guardian Bike Blog is spectacularly unilluminating. It's essential message is: don't leave your bike outside. Ever. Which is obviously good advice but also completely impractical.
The reformed bicycle thief in question, who stole bikes to fund his crack habit, repeats the age-old advice about getting two good locks, though admits that even that is far from full proof. Perhaps the only useful new tip is not to leave your bike if you return to a puncture, because it has probably been done on purpose. I can't imagine why you would, unless all the bike shops were closed and/or you didn't have a spare inner tube/puncture repair kit on you- at which point you would surely put the bike in a taxi (see previous post). This post reeks of a juicy headline (we found a real life bike thief! and spoke to him! It's an inside scoop from the enemy!) with very little to show for it.
I can't really blame the Guardian, because I have yet to find any advice for retaining a bicylce that goes beyond the bleeding obvious (don't forget to lock it) or the it-sounds-silly-but-its-worth-a-try (put a basket on it because bike thieves are concerned about their street cred). Yes, get some good locks, and no, don't spend £800 pounds in the first place. And don't get too attached. Because, somewhere, sometime, if you are cycling regularly over several years, your wheels are probably going to walk. Best just to live with it.
Much as I know that to be true, it gives me chills. Maybe Trusty needs a third lock.....
I've had at least four bikes nicked in almost as many years, and it has taught me to hold things a little more lightly...though I do feel that I'm in danger of getting too attached to Rudy! Love that gal. I send up a little prayer every time i walk away from her after locking her up, can't hurt... :)
ReplyDeleteYes, prayer is probably as good a strategy as any!
ReplyDeleteI had a bike stolen from a locked greenhouse, behind a locked wall in Manchester. Think my landlord let them in with a key. It was a nice black bike... I replaced it with a bike on which only 1 gear worked, was pink, and covered in My Little Pony stickers - no one took that! Now have a nice bike, but live at the top of an uncyclable hill & have to keep bike safely in a 3rd floor flat... so I pretty much just walk now!
ReplyDelete@drbekl- Oh no! There must be a way around it. Is there anywhere you can lock it at the bottom of the hill. Although, not to sound like a sergeant major, I'm not sure there is any such thing as an 'uncyclable hill'- as you'll see from the post going up later. And you can always walk it!
ReplyDeleteOnce the Boris bikes extend all the way here I will just use them for any short hops where I would normally have to park around town, and leave my actual bike for work to home trips where I can leave my bike inside on both sides.
ReplyDeleteUntil then, Kryptonite U-locks it is.
I know, they're fun eh? Did you see this: http://thetrustysteed.blogspot.com/2010/09/committing-adultery-with-boris.html
ReplyDeleteI think they need a laminated version of the map with the docking points though, i've ended up riding around asking people if they've seen one near by.
I bought a Brompton precisely because of the thievery problem. It cost a lot more than 'normal' bikes, but I've had it 5 years, so it's easily paid for itself in saved public transport fares, and it's small enough when folded to take inside pubs, restaurants, even cinemas. The only places I can't take it inside with me are a few museums, art galleries, and libraries.
ReplyDelete