Thx ladies for these responses. It's nice to have folks who understand. Getting my bikes stolen as a kid was awful. We lived the furtherest point from the school, no school bus (just city and a far away stop), and mom couldn't drive... thus bike gone = transportation hardship.

That is also an interesting point about motorist following cyclists home to case out the bike stealing. I wondered that last night. With my new night gear, I'm very easy to spot going and coming.

I'm the only true roadie that zips out of the sub (besides my mtb-ing). I stand out in the day too. My vehicle has my hitch mount rack on it all the time. It's too much for me to load on and off. Just stays for the summer. I think those things spell out "someone who loves bikes" and usually people with passions about things = the gear $ investment grows. Also the amount of $ in gear the thief is after to steal.

The comment about the bikes being replaceable is a good one... the thought of someone taking me off my bike to get it crossed my mind when it was dark.