Unpleasant subject

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Mick Parry
Chaps

I have just retired, have sold my car and recently purchased a Pashley bicycle for commuting into town which is only a eight mile return trip.

This is a pic of the bicycle

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/classic/paramount/specification.html

It is rather old fashioned by modern standards and hopefully very few people would want to steal it because it has hub gears and drum brakes. It is also rather heavy. Despite all that, I enjoy riding it and want to get as much commuting use out of it as possible.

I often leave it locked against a rail and a friend as told me that I need to be more careful.

The saddle is a quick release leather one and he suggested replacing the quick release bracket with a conventional alan key one.

My question is........am I taking a chance leaving it locked or is there a good possibility that bits of it, such as the wheels, will be stolen.

I now remove the small tool bag which was clipped to the rear of the saddle.

Regards

Mick

Yes, anything that someone can remove without tools is likely to be stolen.... sooner or later.
Items that are known to be expensive and marketable are subject to theft, even when they are bolted on.... especially things like a seat + seatpost, lights, computer, tool kit, QR skewers .
The concept is to make it very difficult and unattractive to try.
It is amazing to me that people will steal almost anything that isn't secure.

Always a possibility that it can be stolen. I like to find what I call acceptable risks. If the bike is locked in a very public place with lots of foot traffic than I am less worried. I do a lot of riding just as you describe. I have a big cable and a heavy lock. I'm sure if someone wanted to cut it they could but not easily and perhaps not in a public place. When I park at the train station I strip it of anything that could be easily removed. Since there are often times when the station is virtually deserted. I would absolutely change the seat bolt. I never understood the quick release things I might change my seat height once a year. I always keep in mind I cannot stop a determind thieve. I can discourage him. So if I have a good lock and you dont guess what is going to happen.

Well, this wasn't what I was expecting from a topic marked 'unpleasant'. I expected something about smashing your balls if your shoes unclip and smash against the top bar..... OUCH.

Anyways, lock your bike up nice and tight. Take the saddle. Do not take security for granted

Depends on where you live I guess. Here, we often leave bikes unlocked in front of resturants on club rides, and I've never heard of one stolen. It's not that things don't get stolen here, but just that there are so few bike riders relative to pick-up/SUV drivers, doesn't seem to be much interest.

Or it could be the fact that most people think of bikes as kid's toys you buy at the Wal-Mart, and they already have a couple in their garage.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by TrekDedicated
Well, this wasn't what I was expecting from a topic marked 'unpleasant'. I expected something about smashing your balls if your shoes unclip and smash against the top bar.....

...me too... or peeing whilst riding in bike shorts, spitting in a peloton, something regarding the application of butt butr, or the like.

That's acutally a pretty hip bike for cruising around town. How you secure your bike is a function of how much risk you want to take. My approach would be (assuming you're not leaving it in a REALLY crime-prone area): 1, replace the quick releases w/alan bolts, and 2, leave it in a well-lit, trafficked area. And always lock the FRAME and wheels to a permanent object.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Mick Parry
Chaps

I have just retired, have sold my car and recently purchased a Pashley bicycle for commuting into town which is only a eight mile return trip.

This is a pic of the bicycle

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/classic/paramount/specification.html

What a nice pratcical bike. Too bad they don't have more European-style models like that in the US (although they are starting too - e.g. Breezers).

Here in the US, I think most thieves would steal something that looks more like a "normal" bike and you'd been safer but in the UK perhaps the thieves are more refined and appreciate a more "classic bike" such as that. Regardless, you should always lock up your bike including putting a cord around the little "bits" that can be easily swiped.

I like to carry a u-lock and a cable when I have to lock my bike in public places. I use the u-lock to lock my frame to something substantial and before I close the lock I run the cable thru the wheels and thru the seat rails and put the loops into the u-lock and that seems to keep the [censored] away. Neat bike!

Tip for any hex socket bolted item. If you fill the socket with hot melt glue, you will make its quick removal more difficult. The Glue can be removed with forceps and a bit of heat when necessary.

Clean the socket with solvent, then fill with glue from a hot melt glue gun until its just a bit overfilled. Looks neat and helps to prevent corrosion.

Everyone has good points. As mentioned by gubaguba, get a long cable (so you can thread it through both wheels, and then around the rail), a sturdy lock, get rid of the quick release seat clamp, and take your tool bag with you (or carry it with the rest of your stuff you take with you on your commute), and then you basically reduce your risk to those with bolt cutters and vandals.

Nothing is theft-proof, but you should be okay if you make it as difficult as possible to take anything. You don't want to walk 8 miles home carrying your frame because someone stole your wheels. :-)