Carrying a lock

[kiwi girl]

I'm pretty much with Eden on this one - I figure there really isn't much I could do to stop somebody stealing my bike if they really wanted to. I use a cable lock on my commuter/errands bike (when leaving it outside shops and stuff - I am allowed to keep it in my office at work). But I do so in the knowledge that it will only stop the really opportunistic thief who would see an unlocked bike and run off with it.

I try to avoid leaving my good bikes (my mountain bike or my road bike) unattended. When BF and I ride together one of us will mind the bikes if we need to go into a shop or whatever - and we will try and eat at outdoor cafes where we can have the bikes next to us. Sometimes when I am riding alone I leave my bike unlocked if I need to stop at a restroom - but I try to avoid it (and I make it quick )

[Eden]

.... Sometimes when I am riding alone I leave my bike unlocked if I need to stop at a restroom - but I try to avoid it (and I make it quick )

a week or two after I got my race bike I was out alone and I really, really needed to pee - I actually took the bike in with me..... (at least there wasn't anyone else in there to wonder what the heck I was up to)

[LadyinWhite]

I teach at a Univ and when I ride to campus, I bring my bike into my office or into the classroom. Was thinking of locking it outside but looks like there is no good solution except perhaps leaving the lock attached to the rack itself. I'm going to give that some thought. (thanks for that tip, the more I think about it, it may be exactly the solution)

Like Eden, I have taken my bike right into the restroom with me. I felt a little silly but I knew coming out and finding my bike gone would have felt a lot worse.

Other times I need to lock are for quick errands into town. I decided to solve that problem by moving the rack off my bike (it looked a little silly there anyway) and put it on the princess' MTB bike. Now I can just take her bike into town and not worry about locking it. It's a nice little raleigh but not really anything to sweat losing.

T.

[KSH]

I carried one in my jersey pocket today. Worked just fine.

[Triskeliongirl]

I teach at a Univ and when I ride to campus, I bring my bike into my office or into the classroom. Was thinking of locking it outside but looks like there is no good solution except perhaps leaving the lock attached to the rack itself. I'm going to give that some thought. (thanks for that tip, the more I think about it, it may be exactly the solution)
.

If you are allowed to bring it indoors and store it in your office, that is always the safest best. Mine was stolen while locked to a bike rack at the university I teach at, but they have a no bikes indoor rule even though I have a private office I could store it in....... I also bring it into the restroom with me if I am out riding alone......... Also, be aware, lleaving a locked bike overnight also increases probablity of theft (my daughter lost one this way at school...).

[light_sabe_r]

I keep a heavy chain lock at work in the bike lock up. Works great. Unless I forget my keys... Besides there are a hell of a lot nicer bikes than my roadie (including a Full Carbon Issac) and they are still there in the afternoons. I have no quams placing either the road bike or the hybrid in there. (the fact it's hospital staff key coded area makes me feel safer too)

As for the rest of the time I don't really need to lock up my bike. I take a quick spin down to the post office where it's all glass and can see my baby from the counter or line up. And both pools closest to me have Tri racks so there's no need to lock em up. The cafeterias I go to after group rides have plenty of spots to store bikes so I'm not too concerned.