Bicycle Tourers...

Considering there are a lot of opinions on the subject, what are your views on anti-theft devices, locks, things like that? Keep in mind, we're talking bike touring, not bike messaging in New York City :D

get the best one you can stand to carry!

When we went to Spain we just carried a cable lock, but we usually weren't very far from the bikes either. All of the hotels we stayed at had secure indoor storage for them and we were doing most our sightseeing on foot. I've heard that the best way to foil a thief is to use a cable lock and a U lock, few theives carry the tools to break more than one type of lock at a time.

Thanks for info. Here in NYC bike theft is such a problem that no lock leaves you very safe. I am reminding myself that I will be on the west coast in a lot of campgrounds. Thieves here can cut through a thick cable in under 30 seconds. Lots of times you hear about people just loading bikes in a van and taking them someplace else to bust the lock (if it was not secured well to begin with).

Know the area you're riding in or to... I live in an area with a high degree of bike theft, and have heard that the meth problem is fueling the increase. Too many lock systems are too easy to break - around here if it rolls it's a target for theft.

When we toured in California, we all had a variety of locks and some of the group didn't even bother to lock up for short bathroom/snack breaks. no thefts to report, luckily. Most of the hotels we stayed in either had storage space for the group or allowed us to keep our bikes in the room. When we were in Davis, the most bicycle friendly city in the states, I think, I noticed that some people in town with expensive bikes felt comfortable locking up outside because they also removed the seat. This won't stop someone who is loading bikes into a truck, but will keep the casual bicycle thief from riding off on it.