Another bicycle bites the dust - rant

[bent-stick]

I've just lost a third bicycle in about 3 years from Hampton Court Station. This is dispite being locked with very expensive d-locks.

This time the lock was jammed during the day and I couldn't unlock it last night and before I could get back with an angle grinder it had gone.

Needless to say I'm fuming and I'm planning to do a tour of the second hand shops this weekend to see if I can find it.

I'm just wondering what I have to do to keep them safe. Any ideas?

 

[Galemys]

Join the club...
I went for a drink in Amsterdam 2 weekends ago and after a few pints in the first pub my bike was gone from exactly the same place where I lost a bike 5 years ago (but that time I hadn't locked it...funny what alcohol does to the mind). Two days later some kid raced into the other bike when I brought my two girls to school....AAAAAAHRRRGGGHH!!!

Rant over...

Tom

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Dont bother with D locks, get a good quality padlock and chain. Look for the "Sold Secure" logo as well. This means its been tested to high standards, and when used on your motorbike, you can get insurance discounts, but im not sure if its the same with cycles.

HTH.

 

[Butchd]

You need two different types of locks. Breaking each type of lock requires a different technique and tools. If someone really wants the bike then they are going to take it and there is nothing you can do, however by forcing them to carry two sets of tools it's just that bit harder. Jamming the locks is unfortunately one way of them being able to come back later and break the locks without anyone thinking anything is wrong.

 

[C_Claycomb]

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64987,00.html

Perhaps the answer is to have a really old, ugly bike, that no one in their right mind would want to buy, even second hand, let alone go to the trouble of stealing

 

[Carcajou Garou]

I use aircraft wire cable to secure my Harley, mountain bike et all. very tough to cut without drawing attention to yourself even then it is difficult. I caught one kid worrying the cable with a simple wire cutter, and scared the cr*p out of him (really) . There is also some really tough hardened chain out there for surprisingly less expense than rebuying another bike.

 

[fredcraft]

I use aircraft wire cable to secure my Harley, mountain bike et all. very tough to cut without drawing attention to yourself even then it is difficult. I caught one kid worrying the cable with a simple wire cutter, and scared the cr*p out of him (really) . There is also some really tough hardened chain out there for surprisingly less expense than rebuying another bike.

Oh my, I would have paid to see that

 

[Carcajou Garou]

I took our "Young Of fenders Act" to heart and offended him
I wonder how difficult it would be to for him to explain incontinence(sp)

 

[bent-stick]

I feel a bit better now I'm the owner of a new Gary Fisher path. With 2 sets of locks.

The best answer would be to pack the frame with PE and wire it to a mobile phone. But that sort of thing is probably frowned on.

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Bent-stick, I like it, it would give a new meaning to a "dropped call" :You_Rock_

 

[atross]

Bent-Stick

I feel for you! They are little s%#ts! A least they do something with with the bike. I'm just down the road from you in Sunbury, the bikes that get left at the station just get trashed! Wheels kicked in etc, mindless!

 

[Klenchblaize]

Buy a Brompton??
http://www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=bikerange.stype

 

[bent-stick]

I was tempted by the brompies and the other folding bike (comuta?).

Next time perhaps...

 

[xylaria]

Paint the bike very badly with loud coloured outdoor paint, and put rusty looking wheels on it. If you really want to go to town get a dirty white seat then paint a small smear of 'dark oak' wood varnish in a messy stripe in the middle of the seat. Then remove front wheel when it is locked up.

 

[dave k]

Hmmmmm - I wonder if you can electrocute the frame

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Hmmmmm - I wonder if you can electrocute the frame

Why ? whats the frame done

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Only if you have a metal frame that will conduct electricity, tie in a "fencer battery" to the frame which send out a high voltage very little amperage pulse, good for cows and other beasties.

 

[fredcraft]

Why ? whats the frame done

My family jewels have an old business to settle with that frame... my oh my... just the memory of it hurts (which is litteraly the expression that was left on my face after that close encounter)

 

[dave k]

Why ? whats the frame done

I know you can get briefcases that run about 10,000 volts (or the like) through the handle if it's armed - like a tazer gun. I think in the USA you can probally pick up electrical systems like this for bikes, I'm sure I've seen one for sale somewhere on the internet. If you touch the frame you get zapped

 

[Draven]

Just remove the saddle and replace it with a 12" spike when you lock up