Don't let this happen to you...

[Catrin]

I went to the library this afternoon and saw this at the bike rack. While I do wonder what the wheels look like that were stolen, it is a perfect example of how important it is to at least lock the rear tire as well as the frame. My heart went out to the owner when I saw this, it would be heart breaking to walk out to your bike and find this sight waiting for you :( Of course it is possible the bike was abandoned, we do see that at some of the downtown bike racks but still...

15383

[Blueberry]

Judging from the bike chain (and lock chain), that bike hasn't been ridden in a long time. It's not a high dollar bike either. I expect it was abandoned. I lock on a college campus now. I lock with a mini u lock the frame/rear wheel ala Sheldon. I then lock the front and usually frame again with a cable.

Of course, there's a Lynskey on campus locked only with a cable, so I don't think mine will be the most attractive anyway (and I'm not commuting on my Lynskey anyway). There are usually a large assortment of not locked or poorly locked bikes. I'm surprised they don't all walk.

[Eden]

I was told by the manager at the local co-op (that has a big bike rack and a big abandoned bike problem....) that most of them are dumped there already stripped.

[SFLiz]

I went to the library this afternoon and saw this at the bike rack. While I do wonder what the wheels look like that were stolen, it is a perfect example of how important it is to at least lock the rear tire as well as the frame. My heart went out to the owner when I saw this, it would be heart breaking to walk out to your bike and find this sight waiting for you :( Of course it is possible the bike was abandoned, we do see that at some of the downtown bike racks but still...

15383

Unfortunately, I see this far too often here in the city where I live. Just saw one yesterday, stripped and left for dead. It's terrible.

[smilingcat]

Wow even the rear deraileur and brake calipers are stripped. along with one of the shifters looks like. Like Eden says, must be stripped before it was dumped. No matter how cheap the components are or how cheap a bike it is, to the rightful owner, its a terrible thing. I volunteer as a mechanic to fix up bikes. The non-profit then sells the bike sometimes gives away at no cost to the low income family. They can't even afford a box store huffy or magna bikes. I donate my time as a mechanic. Replacement parts are donated or had at whole-sale price from distributors.

Really sucks!! to have it stolen and stripped.

[spokewench]

I can't imagine anyone going to the trouble to steal this stuff for this bike; I think that is a Walmart bike? Maybe they needed the parts? But really??

[Catrin]

I can't imagine anyone going to the trouble to steal this stuff for this bike; I think that is a Walmart bike? Maybe they needed the parts? But really??

I think that is the thing that really got my attention. I had been in the exact same spot the day before and that bike hadn't been there - the entire thing made no sense. It is hard to imagine that the parts on a bike in that condition would be in very good working condition - let alone worth stealing.