Bike security?

[roughingit]

Normally I bring my bike indoors overnight, but the place I am living now has a strict "No Bikes Inside" policy (not that getting my ride up two flights of narrow windy stairs sounds like much fun anywho though!), so outside he goes. There is a bike rack on the front porch and the light is on all night and another rack in the back or I can lock up at campus two blocks away. The porch is well-lit, which might or might now be a deterrant, but the rack is oddly shaped and I can't get my U-lock to go right from rack to frame and have to use a heavy cable, plus it is easily visible from the street. Campus has plenty of parking options with much better racks, but isn't the safest of bike parking areas. I'm thinking that I could park next to a dorm once the term starts and just park next to nicer looking bikes? Perhaps I'm just paranoid, but then again, bike theft seems to be the biggest crime problem around here.

Does anyone have any lock recommendations for crime-ridden areas? Right now I have an Onstar U and cable so I can lock frame and wheels. Anyone ever try a bike alarm?

[singletrackmind]

2 U-locks? The kind with the newer style locking mechanism, not the barrel type key that can be opened with a bic pen that Kryptonite is replacing, if that's the brand you have. The Kryptonite New York 3000 U-lock and chain seem to be a couple of the best, though even they are not infalliable. Someone mentioned that if you can't get through the lock right away there's always the bike rack! Well, like running from ferocious calf-eating dogs, you only have to bike faster than the other guy. Er, in other words, maybe you just have to make your bike harder to steal than the bikes next to it. As far as parking next to nicer bikes if the guy is stealing the thing to sell to pawn as often happens around downtown it's not likely he'll know a Huffy from a Colnago.

Also if you haven't already, register the bike with the local PD and keep a sheet with info, description, pictures and SERIAL NUMBER should you ever have to prove it's yours. Some people also put something identifying down the seat tube though I'd make sure it couldn't be used for ID theft just in case the thief would (most unlikely) find it.

I've never heard of a bike alarm. That could be interesting...

[ladyjai]

I don't like chains. I had a bike stolen locked with chains. My best advise is to get 2 locks. One which is a Club-style U-lock and one which is a heavy-duty cable (with separate lock).

Theives usually come equiped with cutters which will only be able to handle a U-lock or a cable, but not both (apparently, they are that different). You'll get to the point where you hate unlocking it, but it will be a deterrant for the others. Thieves are lazy, so make them work if they want your bike. The Club U-lock is nice because I've never met a bike stand it couldn't wiggle it's way around to lock both the frame and one tire (It may take some creative thinking on your part). Then you can use the cable to link the other tire to the frame and to the stand. Though I have not had a chance to take them up with it, the Club claims to provide a complete warrenty for your bike if stolen while using it.

If you can, don't put panniers or racks on the bicycle. I realize they are very helpful, but they are also are very enticing to theives.

I noticed an awesome lock recently. It looks like a set of handcuffs, and put out by master. It is heavy! but, I think that could make a nice 2nd or third lock.

I used the bike club for 5 of my 6 years at ASU, which is bike thief central. And I really want a pair of bikecuffs

What shape are the racks?

[ladyjai]

As far as parking next to nicer bikes if the guy is stealing the thing to sell to pawn as often happens around downtown it's not likely he'll know a Huffy from a Colnago.

very true. when my bike was stolen, it was actually locked up to my Specialized Hardrock, but the Hardrock had an extra lock on it (club thing). the stolen bike was a huffy, with a full set of panniers on it. The huffy's spokes were totally shot, and lets just say it was going nowhere fast, lol.

[Asphaltgirl]

and don't forget to take off one of the wheels. no one wants a 1 wheeled bike! (unless they are really desperate). Daughter (in college) also took out the seat post/saddle. Can you see if the apartment would consider changing their policy? Might be worth trying.
~AG~

[Adventure Girl]

and don't forget to take off one of the wheels. no one wants a 1 wheeled bike!

That's a great point. My friend had 3 bikes stolen from his garage. They left 4. I asked if the thieves took the mountain bikes, road bikes or the ones closest to the door. He said that they took all the bikes that had 2 wheels on them! Make it as difficult as you can for the crooks!

[DirtDiva]

I've got one of these and am yet to find something I can't lock my bike to securely with it. (My keys look different to the ones in the picture, but I'm pretty sure that other than that it's the same one - not about to run down to the garage and check.) The website does recomend it as being a lock for low-medium crime areas, but my LBS recomended it as being fine for London. My insurance company also rates it as a lock good enough for bikes valued up to £1500 (US$2700 or so), for what that's worth.

[roughingit]

The lock that I have is immune to the Bic trick, I mostly worry about the cable. Even though the brand recieved good reviews, many sites caution that cables are only deterrants. The rack in question is of a type I had never seen before now. It has these loops for both wheels welded on and the bike sits with a wheel in each loop. My bike, however, doesn't fit, so I have it lean against the wall and run the cable through one of the loopy thingies. I tried to find a pic on Google, but had no luck.

The place I am living in is actually a boarding house. It's a very nice place, but the owner was very firm on the no bikes inside rule. Right now I'm leaning towrds locking up on campus, at least there I could lock it to one of the big inverted U dealies.

Tlkiwi- The lock system I have is similar to yours, only with a higher safety rating. I haven't found anything I can't get the cable through, it's the U I'm worried about. I prefer to just have the cable as insurance for my wheels.

Huffies are stolen almost as frequently as Treks and Giants around here. Luckily my Fuji is not a popular brand, nor is it a mountain bike (more desirable to most people around here), but some people automatically assume anything with ramshorns that isn't from the seventies (and showing it) must be expensive. Locking up next to something more desirable is my normal modus operandi. At the house at, the is an unlocked Huffy next to me that could prove to be a much better target even though it looks like crud.

I like the removing a wheel idea. I take it that this would get me able to accomplish this task in a hurry? Even though it has quick release hubs, the fasteners are still pretty stiff for me to be dealing with multiple times a day.

[ladyjai]

you could only remove the wheel at night, or longer lengths. they should loosen up with use. perhaps a little lubricant might help (but don't quote me on that!)

also, move the bike around. Never lock it up in the same place every night. Jump from side to side. A bike that is noticably moving means that the owner might come out and take it for a ride, and the thieves stand a higher chance of getting caught. However, if a bike looks like it never moves, it may start losing a couple parts, then another.... etc...

[susiej]

I'll second the "move the bike" advice. The 15-year-old Nishiki was undisturbed at the suburban train station with only a Kryptonite cable lock, UNTIL I stopped riding for a month and a half. Even then , the thieves never managed to cut all the way through the cable; my husband did with a pair of bolt cutters (key was at home and he would have had to make another 40-minute round trip to get it; the hardware super-store was closer).

And, to tie with another thread, the bike was locked at the station for commuting to work. I'd bike the mile to our local station, ride out even further into the burbs, grab the bike there, and ride the 3 1/2 miles to the office. This was easier than loading a bike onto the train, although SEPTA (Philly regional rail) does allow bikes during peak hours IF you and the bike are travelling in the opposite direction of most commuters.

Good luck!

--SJ