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Bike owners, security help please?

19:03 / 05.05.02

Sorry if it's not very conversation-ish but this seems the best place for this - I need suggestions.

I've just bought a new bike yesterday, and I'm concerned about security, London being the big-bad-city it is. I've got a decent D-lock, and that's always been enough before (in Auckland, and with a crappier bike). But my new bike has a quick-release seat and wheel and I'm totally paranoid about how easily they can be nicked.

As I say, I only bought it yesterday and although I've gone on two long rides I didn't have to leave it anywhere. But if I want actually use it day to day - going to the shops, the gym, whatever - then how can I help prevent people running off with all my easily-detached bits and pieces? My one visit to a shop today saw me carrying my seat round with me, but that's hardly ideal.

19:06 / 05.05.02

I should add that the seat-carrying was partly due to the fact that I need to check my insurance status and the insurance co has closed for the weekend. Plus not wanting to have to ride home standing up, of course.

21:15 / 05.05.02

You can get a tiny cable thingy that attaches the seat to the rest of the bike, I have one of those. Of course that means you can't remove the seat anymore, but I never wanted to. Do they make the seats removable just to sell more cable thingys? I got mine put on at the bike store.

Then for the front wheel, you just make sure you lock the front wheel and the frame together to the bike rack with the D-lock.

pointless and uncalled for

12:46 / 06.05.02

Remember that D-Locks can be easily removed with a can if lighter gas and a hammer.

The police reccomend use of a minimum of a four pin padlock with a heavy rubber/plastic coated padlock which is long enough to be attached to both wheels. This is from an officer who has a vested interest in not filling out any more stolen bicycle report forms.

D-Locks do not provide enough security for both wheels and most people opt to lock the quick release front wheel. What a lot of people don't realise is that the gear set attached to the rear wheel is worth quite a bit of money as a part, especially from a brand new bike.

12:53 / 06.05.02

I usually lock my BACK wheel, purely because it's more of a faff to take it off. I don't have a QR front one, but to be honest, 5 minutes with some spanners will take the wheel off anyway.

The biggest D-Lock you can get is good, as you never know how close to railing/lamppost/bikerack you'll be able to lock it, and ideally you want to lock bike+wheel to the thing.

Unless you're unsure of it, NEVER lock the bike to itself and nothing else. I lost one of them that way - that's the way I leave it around the town, but that's because everyone does that here, it being the land of bikes, and in London I might not be so lucky.

Taking the seat is up to you. It's not hugely convenient or inconviennet, moer convenient than a wheel, and it is right pain in the arse when someone steals your seat and you have to bike home standing all the sodding way. Didn't happen to me, but did to someone I know, so be careful.

Other than that...

You've got about the right idea. The big fuckoff chain with big fuckoff padlock one is probably the best, though.

12:55 / 06.05.02

Basically what you want for the ultimate in city security is 2 U-Locks (which I'm thinking are D-Locks in Ingle-Terra), so you can put one on one wheel and one on the other. Then you can also get a cable lock to put around the whole dealy. I know that's a lot but you'd be amazed at how quickly you can lock that baby up once you get the hang. I myself have only had pretty crappy old bikes that nobody's interested in stealing in the city so I've made do with just the one U-Lock.

Of course as far as your seat and your wheel go well I'd recommend popping off your seat or your wheel and taking it with you but Peresphone's got a great idea there - didn't know you could do that!

pointless and uncalled for

13:15 / 06.05.02

A little dirt is a good deterrent when your bike is parked next to others. Put a bit of dust and mud on it and then clean the race, chain and gears.

For stealing a bicycle locked with a D-Lock. Take one can of lighter gas, press into the keyhole and release at least half of the can. Hit really hard with a hammer and watch the locking mechanism shatter. Walk away with the bike. Total elapsed time, less than 1 1/2 minutes.

This is not possible with a padlock because of the alloys used.

14:15 / 06.05.02

Of course, other wheel trick you can do:

take the front wheel OFF.

Place it parallel to the back wheel.

Now the D-Lock will go through both wheels side by side and round a lampost, etc. Voila. Two locked wheels, one lock. Still can't lock the seat, but it's a start.

16:19 / 06.05.02

There's always the cycle courier method - protective foam duct-taped around the top tube, etc. Like potus says, scruff your bike up a bit...makes it less attractive to thieves, and protects it from scratches, too. A couple of locks is not a bad idea, or just a really big fuck-off lock, but they are an arse to cart about...

(I wish I had the nerve to even ride my bike on the road - I'd even be grateful to be worried about it getting nicked...)

16:33 / 06.05.02

Sheesh. I think I'll get the bus, and just keep my bike at home as an ornament.
But thanks everyone, I did go to the bike shop today and bought a small cable lock for the seat and a big chain to go through both wheels. I was going to attach that chain to the D-lock but maybe I'll pick up a padlock for it.
Luckily, I can keep it inside at home and by my desk at work so it's just, well, all the rest of the time that it's likely to go missing!