This is a question that will probably show me up as a newb but...
You know how sometimes at a shopping center or similar there are loads of locks attached to bike stands which are not occupied by bikes? Does that mean that loads of bikes were stolen from those births? Or is there another explanation?*
It depends.
Experienced urban cyclists may leave locks at their regular destinations in order not to have to carry one with them (good locks being very heavy and awkward). On arrival, they can simply unlock their own lock, and use it to lock their bike.
I've seen children lock their bikes by the seatpost. A theft of a bicycle locked in such a way could result in a lock left on a bike stand.
So can theft of a bike for parts (destroying the frame), or removal of a bike which has had a "if you don't remove this bike within X days it will be treated as abandoned and forcibly removed" notice on for X+1 days. So can a thief who picks a lock (google for "Kryptonite ball point pen"😉 and locks it again afterwards to annoy you even more.
Someone I know recently bought locking skewers etc for their bike. These things rely on the fact that someone else doesn't carry a 6 edged allen key. Well, that's the impression I got. Any decent bike stripper would just buy a similar kit.
They work surprisingly well. Most wheels etc seem to be nicked by scum on the lock out for something easy.
Quoted message said:
Okay, I guess they are to stop petty theft, but by locking my wheels and frame everytime I get *no* theft. I also have to remove my saddle, but that's not such a hassle.
It's far too much hassle for me and would make the bike useless for commuting/ shopping etc to the point that I'd probably just walk instead.
It would be quite difficult to steal a bike without opening the lock somehow.
I always used to wonder why people would leave just the front wheel chained to a railing and take the rest of the bike with them.
Probably because others leave the front wheel unlocked, making it very easy to equip the bike with a new front wheel. One day last year I figured that I could have "assembled" a rather nice MT in about 2 minutes. I dithered though over full or front suspension 🙂 John Kane, Kingston ON Canada
